10 years of the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)

Jul 05, 2023

Wildfires, earthquakes, or a global pandemic. Recent events have proved that no country is immune to disasters. In times of crisis, rapid and coordinated response is essential to saving lives and minimising damage. That's where the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) steps in.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the ERCC has been the backbone of the EU's emergency response and the heart of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Working 24/7, 365 days a year, the EU's disaster response hub has responded to over 650 requests for assistance, ensuring the timely delivery of support to countries in urgent need.

Let's take a closer look at how the ERCC has transformed crisis management and strengthened Europe's resilience over the past decade.

To inaugurate the premises, Jose Manuel, Barroso, President of the European Commission, centre, and European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva are joined by other VIPs to cut the ribbon.

Additionally, a new legislation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism outlined the role and responsibilities of the ERCC as a 24/7 emergency hub monitoring and responding to emergencies worldwide upon activation by the countries affected as well as establishing a pool of pre-committed response capacities fulfilling specific quality requirements.

Typhoon Haiyan is one of the strongest tropical storms ever recorded. It struck the Philippines in early November 2013, causing massive devastation, thousands of deaths, and a major humanitarian crisis.

Several Member States mobilised emergency assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. It was the first major emergency where the ERCC exercised its coordinating role, ensuring a monitoring of the situation and rapid deployment of staff and resources.

Haiyan typhoon was also one of the first big emergencies where EU civil protection and humanitarian aid experts started to work together on the ground in a complementary manner.

Commissioner for Crisis Management in 2014, Christos Stylianides, took the role of EU Ebola Coordinator. The ERCC coordinated the deployment of emergency supplies and experts, and managed evacuation requests in cooperation with the World Health Organization.

The Ebola crisis was the biggest-ever civil-military cooperation under EU Civil Protection Mechanism. It was coordinated by the ERCC to send the Dutch biggest navy vessel "Karel Doorman" full of humanitarian assistance to Ebola-hit countries in West Africa.

On 25 April 2015, an earthquake hit Nepal, causing massive destruction. Thanks to the ERCC coordination role, the EU dispatched civil protection teams and coordinated the delivery of assistance provided by EU countries. Over 15 Member States showed solidarity with Nepal and provided tents, water purification modules, search and rescue teams, medical staff, etc.

The complexity of access and difficult logistics made the deployment of teams very difficult. In addition, many EU tourists were stranded in the mountains and needed to be repatriated.

2017 was a deadly wildfire season in Europe, especially in Portugal - over 1 million hectares burned in the EU, and more than 200 people were killed.

This was the most difficult fire season in the ERCC, with 17 requests for assistance. The season showed several instances where no response resources where available as many countries faced extreme risk.

With climate change fuelling wildfires, preparedness was key. To better prepare for upcoming wildfire seasons, the EU established a new fleet of firefighting resources, known as the rescEU fleet.

The ERCC had two major operations to coordinate in 2018: strong wildfires in Sweden and a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in Indonesia.

The fire in Sweden showed that large wildfires can significantly affect not only Mediterranean countries but can go up to Northern EU countries.

For the fires in Sweden, the ERCC deployed planes, helicopters, vehicles and personnel from across Europe to tackle the blaze – it was the largest deployments of ground forces (more than 400 firefighters) in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism at that time.

For the earthquake in Indonesia, the ERCC deployed technical experts and EU civil protection officers, and coordinate the in-kind assistance offered by various EU countries.

Indonesia's earthquake marked a milestone in the ERCC early warning and situational awareness with the use of expert judgment and scientific support under the Aristotle system.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a huge logistical challenge for the ERCC, and an unprecedented health emergency for the EU.

Requests for assistance jumped from 20 in 2019 to 102 in 2020. Since the very onset of the pandemic, the ERCC worked tirelessly to respond to request for assistance by various Member States and countries worldwide. In April 2020, European medical teams from Romania and Norway were deployed to Italy to support the country in the peak of the pandemic.

During COVID-19, the ERCC coordinated the delivery of medical staff and equipment, evacuated stranded EU citizens, and provided vaccines to those countries that sought assistance.

In response to Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine, the ERCC has been coordinating EU the largest emergency operation ever since the creation of the Eu Civil Protection Mechanism, channeling millions of emergency items to Ukraine and the surrounding region.

The ERCC established 3 logistical hubs to enable a coherent and coordinated EU response and a continental EU MEDEVAC system to evacuate war-injured Ukrainian citizens to EU hospitals.

The work of the Emergency Response Coordination Centre wouldn't be possible without its duty officers. They work day and night, monitoring disasters and coordinating the EU's response to crises and emergencies worldwide. Their passion, commitment, and professionalism are vital to ensure the success of the EU's emergency response.

Meet some of them.

EU Emergency Response Coordinator

"The EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre is in a unique position to coordinate the delivery of assistance of Member States and participating states, while also bringing together colleagues in the field and also EU humanitarian partners. The ERCC is like a cooperation hub like no other."

EU Emergency Response Coordinator

"An emergency can happen at any time. Even if it's already very busy, something else can happen: an earthquake, floods, a volcanic eruption. You always have to be prepared."

EU Emergency Response Coordinator

"As a background, I'm a fire officer, so I'm used with the emergencies working out under pressure. I cannot see myself doing anything else. It's something that once you're in, you love it so much and it's just part of the way you are."

EU Emergency Response Coordinator

"What I like the most is that you can see what we do has an effect on people. So, it's an immediate reward after a long day of shift when you see that something has been delivered that can have an impact in someone's life"

What does the ERCC look like? How is the EU's emergency response coordinated from this centre?

We have designed a virtual tour incorporating e-learning modules to increase visibility and awareness of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the work of the ERCC.

The ERCC virtual tour offers a dynamic and interactive experience that allows you to explore the premises as if you were there. During the tour, you will see the briefing, control, and conference rooms, where you will hear directly from EU civil protection officers.

Start the tour

What is it like to lead the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)?

We asked the ERCC's Director, Hans Das, who walked us through the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre and told us about his work and the main ERCC operation room.