Date: 2023-11-28Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision (EU) 2023/2671 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 November 2023 amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU to extend the rescEU transitional period (Text with EEA relevance)
Executive Summary:
This decision amends Decision No 1313/2013/EU, which defines the legal framework of rescEU, to extend the transitional period for its full implementation until December 31, 2027. The extension aims to ensure the Union can secure additional aerial rescEU capacities under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism while a permanent European aerial forest firefighting fleet is established, addressing the increasing risk of wildfires. The decision enters into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Extension of rescEU Transitional Period:**
* The transitional period for the full implementation of rescEU is extended to December 31, 2027.
* **Justification for Extension:**
* Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts increase the risk of more frequent and intense wildfires.
* The limited availability of specialized response capacities, especially aerial firefighting, remains a major concern.
* The extension provides flexibility to secure additional aerial rescEU capacities while a permanent European aerial forest firefighting fleet is established.
* **Legal Basis and Principles:**
* The decision is based on Article 196 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
* It adheres to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.
* **Amendment Details:**
* Article 35 of Decision No 1313/2013/EU is amended to replace the date "1 January 2025" with "31 December 2027" in the first paragraph.
* **Entry Into Force and Addressees:**
* The decision enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
* The decision is addressed to the Member States.
Impact Analysis:
* **Member States:**
* Impact: Member States can continue to receive support from the Union in fighting wildfires until a permanent European aerial forest firefighting fleet is established. They have additional time to adapt and transition to the full implementation of rescEU.
* Action Required: Member States should take note of the extended transitional period and continue to collaborate with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism to enhance their wildfire response capacities.
* **European Parliament and Council:**
* Impact: The European Parliament and Council have jointly adopted this decision, reinforcing the Union's commitment to civil protection and disaster response.
* Action Required: Ensure the decision is effectively implemented and monitored across Member States.
* **European Commission:**
* Impact: The European Commission is responsible for overseeing the implementation of rescEU and ensuring the availability of necessary resources and capacities.
* Action Required: Continue to facilitate the establishment of a permanent European aerial forest firefighting fleet and provide support to Member States in strengthening their civil protection capabilities.
Key Entities Referenced
European Parliament: Legislative branch of the European Union.
Council of the European Union: A component of the EU's legislative branch representing the governments of member states.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union.
European Commission: Executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's budget.
Decision No 1313/2013/EU: A decision of the European Parliament and of the Council that defines the legal framework of rescEU.
rescEU: An initiative to provide assistance in overwhelming situations where existing national capacities are insufficient.
Union Civil Protection Mechanism: A framework for cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions in the event of major emergencies.
Strasbourg: City in Alsace, France. Location where the decision was adopted.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2023/2671 28.11.2023
DECISION (EU) 2023/2671 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 22 November 2023
amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU to extend the rescEU transitional period
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 196 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure(1),
Whereas:
(1) Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) defines the legal framework of
rescEU. rescEU aims to provide assistance in overwhelming situations where overall existing capacities at national
level and those pre-committed by Member States to the European Civil Protection Pool are not able to ensure an
effective response.
(2) With rising temperatures and prolonged periods of drought, the risk of wildfires in the Union is increasing and the
wildfires are becoming more frequent and more intense. The limited availability of specialised response capacities,
including amphibious aerial forest firefighting capacities, remains a major concern and constitutes the Union’s main
operational challenge when confronting simultaneous wildfires.
(3) In view of the necessary flexibility that has been afforded by the transitional period provided for in Decision
No 1313/2013/EU to ensure a smooth transition towards the full implementation of rescEU, it is critical to extend
that transitional period until 31 December 2027 to ensure that the Union can secure additional aerial rescEU
capacities under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism while the permanent European aerial forest firefighting fleet
is gradually being established.
(4) Since the objective of this Decision, namely to ensure that the Union can continue to provide support to Member
States in fighting wildfires until a permanent European aerial forest firefighting fleet is established, cannot be
sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of its scale and effects, be better achieved at
Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5
of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this
Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.
(5) Decision No 1313/2013/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,
(1) Position of the European Parliament of 17 October 2023 (not yet published in the Official Journal of the European Union) and decision of
the Council of 13 November 2023.
(2) Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection
Mechanism (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 924).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2671/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 28.11.2023
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Amendment of Decision No 1313/2013/EU
In Article 35 of Decision No 1313/2013/EU, in the first paragraph, the date ‘1 January 2025’ is replaced by ‘31 December
2027’.
Article 2
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
Article 3
Addressees
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Strasbourg, 22 November 2023,
For the European Parliament For the Council
The President The President
R. METSOLA P. NAVARRO RÍOS
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2671/oj