The Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will host the 33rd meeting of directors general for civil protection of member and candidate countries on 29 and 30 September at the Farnesina in Rome, organised in collaboration with the European Commission.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Lapo Pistelli will open the event, which will be chaired by Head of the Italian Civil Protection Department Franco Gabrielli and Director General of the ECHO Directorate General Claus Sorensen.
Attending the meeting in addition to the other civil protection directors of the 28 EU member states, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway will be those of EU candidate and potential candidate countries (Western Balkans and Turkey). Meeting topics of discussion will include cooperation and progress in capacity building programmes.
A central focus will be placed on strengthening cooperation between civil protection and humanitarian aid – the two areas united since 2010 under the ECHO directorate general – one of the main priorities of the Italian Presidency of the EU Council.
Journalists, photographers and television media will be allowed to cover the opening speeches by the Deputy Minister, Head of the Department of Civil Protection and Director General of ECHO, as well as the ceremony for Montenegro’s adhesion to the European civil protection mechanism planned to take place from 9:15 to 10:00 on 29 September at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Requests for accreditation should be sent by e-mail to the Civil Protection Department’s press office ataccrediti.stampa@protezionecivile.it(Tel. +39.06.68202373)no later than 16:00 on Sunday 28 September.
Accredited members of the press will be admitted at the rear entrance to the foreign ministry in via Macchia della Farnesina,starting at 08:30 on Monday 29 September.
