As part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, each year the European Commission Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid publishes a call for projects in the field of prevention and preparedness. In addition to the coordination of aid in the event of major disasters, one of the main purposes of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is to strengthen prevention and preparedness, with the aim of increasing the preparedness and ability to manage disaster risks in the European Member States and at the European level. Special attention must also be given to the safety and protection of people with disabilities in the event of natural or other disasters. Together with a consortium, we submitted an application for the project Safe and Equal in EMErgencies – “SEE ME” within the framework of this 2021 tender, which was successful.

The project began on 1^st March 2022 and will run for 18 months. The total value of the project is 367,814.64 EUR (85% is co-financed by the European Commission). The lead partner of the project is the Ministry of Interior, Civil Protection Croatia, and the project partners are the Ministry of Interior, Directorate for Emergency Situations, Montenegro and the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

During the kick-off meeting of the project partners in Split, the basis for cooperation between the project partners was established and the content and timing of the project was agreed.

The main objective of the project is to increase the preparedness and response capacity of the protection, rescue and rescue system in Slovenia and of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. In particular, it aims to improve the safety and protection of people with disabilities in the event of natural or other disasters, and to strengthen the cooperation of the civil protection authorities, with a focus on the needs of people with disabilities in the event of natural or other disasters.

The project will carry out activities to raise awareness of the general public and the protection, rescue and assistance forces of the needs of people with disabilities during natural and other disasters. Adapted material will be prepared with information on disaster management; workshops/consultations and training on the needs of people with disabilities in disasters will be conducted; and guidelines for the inclusion of the needs of people with disabilities in prevention, planning and response activities in the event of natural and other disasters will be prepared.

The results of the project are not only aimed at benefits for Slovenia, but also for all project partners and more broadly at the European level. An indirect effect of the project is the strengthening of the civil protection authorities with an emphasis on the so-far neglected area relating to people with disabilities, in particular, joint preparedness measures, a review of the current situation and the achievements of the European Union so far, and the further development of these achievements in order to give the citizens of all European Member States an improved response to natural and other disasters.