First Arab-European Dialogue on Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction launched

The first Arab-European Dialogue on Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction is being held in the Belgian capital, Brussels, on 3-4 November. The dialogue is being jointly organised by the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, through the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the European Commission, represented by its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

The first Arab-European Dialogue on Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction is being held in the Belgian capital, Brussels, on 3-4 November.

The dialogue is being jointly organised by the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, through the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the European Commission, represented by its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

The dialogue is being held on the sidelines of the Ninth European Civil Protection Forum, with broad and distinguished participation from 26 Arab and European countries.

This reflects the League of Arab States' sustained efforts to build bridges of cooperation and strengthen regional and international partnerships in the field of disaster risk reduction.

The dialogue comes at a time when climate-related challenges are intensifying, including record-high temperatures, heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires, alongside humanitarian crises that are placing mounting pressure on communities and infrastructure.

These circumstances highlight the need to move towards a coordinated response and a proactive approach centred on prevention and investment in preparedness, rather than relying solely on action in the aftermath of disasters.

The dialogue builds on the Arab-European partnership launched at the 2019 Sharm El-Sheikh Summit.

It also complements the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2030 and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, alongside the strategic partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to strengthen institutional capacities and advance national and local strategies.

The meeting focuses on practical steps, including developing early warning systems, exchanging risk information, building the capacities of civil protection authorities through joint training and exercises, protecting critical infrastructure, and integrating disaster risk reduction into development planning.

Particular attention is being given to the groups most vulnerable to risks and to local communities, with the aim of establishing a sustainable framework for cooperation and reducing losses among the peoples of both regions.