Between 29th January and 2nd February, a team of independent experts, sponsored by the European Commission, will participate in a mission in Italy with the aim of supporting local authorities through a thematic review, conducted by peers. Focused on rural fire-risk management in that country, it highlights the best practices and shares development recommendations in the face of identified challenges.
After the application process, Portugal is represented by expert João Carlos Verde, current deputy for integrated management policies at Agência para a Gestão Integrada de Fogos Rurais (AGIF), selected by the European Commission. Experts from Spain, Norway, France and Italy are also to join the group.
During the course of the severe fires that engulfed Greece over the last few years, the Greek authorities, through the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, requested a review of the country’s existing rural fire-risk management in September 2023, under the peer-review programme in the EU civil protection scheme.
In this context, the Directorate-General for Civil Protection and European Humanitarian Aid Operations support both member states as well as those participating states under the EU civil protection scheme in order to review their policies and practices, taking advantage of the experience, strengths and challenges that other countries face, which makes it possible to share recommendations that increase the efficiency of already ongoing local initiatives.
The experts, who act independently, will have the opportunity to make contact with relevant agents in the sector, and conduct a technical analysis that will contribute to the reduction of vulnerabilities and to the definition of strategies. This analysis will be included in a report to be submitted to the Greek government, but which will also benefit other European countries.
