The purpose of this Call for Proposals is to identify and finance projects aimed at strengthening cooperation among Member States/Participating States as well as third countries, on disaster prevention and preparedness.

The general objective for Topic 1 of the 2021 Call for Proposals focuses on the cross-border disaster risk management through prevention and preparedness in Europe, IPA beneficiaries and EU Neighbourhood countries. In order to contribute to achieving the above general objective, applicants are invited to focus on one of the following call priorities. The first priority takes into account cross-border risks and the management of disaster risks that each country faces. The second priority refers to the need for cross-border collaboration and for assistance from bordering communities during disaster management. For instance, in some cases it is more efficient a joint preparation with neighboring regions that use one common planning instead of several separate plans.

Therefore, the activities for the 1st Priority that can be funded are the ones that aim to assess/quantify risks with cross-border impacts, either building on/expanding existing cross-border risk assessments or developing one through the project. Under 2nd Priority, this Call will co-finance activities that aim to enhance cross-border disaster preparedness. Within more analysis, the projects may include a broad range of activities, such as testing, demonstration and / or implementation of innovative practices to enhance prevention of, and preparedness for disasters. Also, may include activities to develop methods and tools to support decision-making in disaster risk management, activities to develop methods and tools to measure and/or enhance the understanding of the impact of disasters, activities to promote harmonised cross-border approaches for assessing and communicating risks and activities to strengthen disaster preparedness protocols and response capacities. The users for both Priorities will be civil protection authorities and stakeholders in Member States, Participating States, IPA beneficiaries not participating in the Mechanism, and/or European Neighborhood Policy countries that share a border.

The general objective for Topic 2 of the 2021 Call for Proposals focuses on enhancing prevention of and protection from the effects of maritime disasters. In order to contribute to achieving the above general objective, proposals are invited to focus on one of the following call priorities.

The first priority takes into account the increasing complexity of maritime risks due to changes in maritime transport, fuels and hazardous cargos, requiring a review and step-up of the capacity of responders as well as improved monitoring, detection and response tools to different pollutants. It is important that such capacity development takes into account a variety of pressures for marine environment and their current management, and aims towards more flexible and versatile capabilities that can serve across multiple areas.

The second priority refers to the European regional coordination in the area of marine pollution disaster risk management which is mainly built and undertaken in the Regional Sea Conventions. Therefore, this call particularly supports strategic prevention and preparedness goals and actions endorsed or initiated under these Conventions, when regional resources are not sufficient for their implementation. Furthermore, the ongoing regional work does not always sufficiently involve other relevant sectors, leaving room for fragmentation or lack of coordination.

The call aims to address these gaps. The activities that can be funded (scope) for the 1st Priority, are the ones that aim to increase capacity of responders, including development of advanced methodologies supporting training and exercises as well as improving technology and tools for better monitoring, detection and response to at-sea and coastal pollution. Such tools and methodologies should take into account different response functions and their interactions, integrate lessons identified in incidents and exercises and support recent or new strategic initiatives undertaken at European or regional level. Under the 2nd Priority, this Call will co-finance activities that aim to strengthen joint prevention and preparedness actions within the European regional sea areas as well as, inter-regional initiatives when more efficiency or effectiveness can be achieved. The call will also co-finance activities aiming to strengthen operational links between at-sea and shoreline pollution responders as well as other relevant sectors for a more integrated and coordinated approach.