The 9th meeting of the ARLEM Commission for Sustainable Territorial Development was held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Rabat, Morocco.
This meeting made it possible to discuss the first approach of the thematic report prepared by André VIOLA, President of CEPLI and member of the Department of Aude, relating to civil protection in the Mediterranean.
This subject, which is one of the 5 priorities of the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM), was addressed for the first time by ARLEM.
The rapporteur was able to observe that the Mediterranean area is one of the regions where the effects of global warming will be particularly severe, given the vulnerability to many forms of natural disasters, forest fires, droughts, floods, earthquakes, etc.
The 6th IPCC report also recalls that this space will be even more affected in the future.
For the past three years, most Mediterranean territories have been able to measure the increase in the ravages of massive fires and the difficulties encountered in dealing with them.
The members of the Committee on Sustainable Development were unanimous on the fact that today the Euro-Mediterranean area must face multifaceted crises which can occur concomitantly.
In addition to natural disasters, there are pandemics, technological risks and terrorism.
All these phenomena have heavy impacts on our environment, our economies, and the existence of our fellow citizens.
The rapporteur also pointed out that these crises know no borders and their transnational nature implies enhanced cooperation in the field of civil protection.
Succeeding in adapting to these shocks and disturbances, in order to limit their impact, implies the participation of all stakeholders in the Euro-Mediterranean area. States, the Union for the Mediterranean, the European civil protection system, the emergency services of each country must be able to rely on local authorities and their representation, ARLEM.
This preliminary report is based on a study commissioned by the Committee of the Regions which studied more particularly the example of the Department of Aude, Intermediate local authority which intervenes in matters of civil protection on its territory in a logic of multilevel governance.