Integrated cross-border approach for improving the cooperation and joint preparedness on risk prevention and disaster management at the level of Bihor Hajdu-Bihar Euroregion

Taking into account the identified problems and needs at the level of Bihor and Hajdu-Bihar Euroregion in terms of risk-prevention and disaster management and which are reflected through the lack of a risks evaluation in this cross-border area, of a disaster resilience approach, of a coordinated response to emergency situations based on the harmonized development and coordinated use of integrated capacities, the lack of regional training infrastructures for improving the preparedness of firefighters in risk prevention and disaster management, the un-sufficient territorial coverage, it is important to promote related specific tools that can answer to the above mentioned problems. Based on the important experience and knowledge in dealing with various emergencies situations in the cross-border area gathered during these last years both by the Association  Service for Assistance in Special Situations {SARTISS), the Hajdu-Bihar County’s Directorate for Disasters’ Management (Hajdú-Bihar MKI) and their associated partner (Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Crișana-ISU Crișana) and taking into account the existing needs and the evolution of risk types, project partners promote, through CROSSRISKS project, an integrated cross-border approach  by combining policy and investment tools, therefore improving the cooperation and joint preparedness on risk prevention and disaster management. This cross-border integrated approach requires the setting-up of strategies and action plans for preventing and mitigating the risks and disaster management, the developing and extension of the cross-border infrastructure in the field of preparedness for emergencies situations, the developing of joint training programs and the establishing of joint protocols for specific interventions. In the frame of Crossrisks project, the previous mentioned policy and specific investments tools are represented by the Cross-Border Strategy for the risk prevention and disaster management at the level of Bihor Hajdu-Bihar Euroregion, the language learning classes for the personnel working in the field of disaster management, the establishing of joint protocols for specific interventions, the extending, modernizing and jointly operating of two complementary Regional Cross-border Training Centers for Integrated Preparedness for Interventions in Case of Emergencies which will be situated in Bors and Hajdúszoboszló localities, the common training programs for ensuring the preparedness level of voluntary and professional staff involved in risk and disaster management from Bihor-Hajdu Bihar Euroregion, in particular, and both countries, in general. By implementing Crossrisks project, all key relevant actors from Bihor-Hajdu Bihar Euroregion involved in disaster risk reduction policy would better develop the mastering and practice of command chain processes in local and cross-border suppression operations on fires, explosions, industrial accidents), therefore improving the quality of intervention in this targeted cross-border area. In the same context, the setting up of the Regional Cross-border Training Centers for Integrated Preparedness for Interventions in Case of Emergencies will integrate the preparedness aspects in a cross-border disaster management policy and will render permanent the cooperation in the frame of this policy, with direct impact on the overall population benefiting from the public services interventions improved through Crossrisks project.

Achieved: 1) Increased quality of interventions through the development of regional level cross-border infrastructure in the field of emergency preparedness. 2) Population will be better safeguarded by improved emergency services in the cross border area, equipped with profesional equipment procured within the project, which will remain in the property of the partners and will be used in case of different types of emergencies; 3) The Joint Strategy for Emergency Situations,languages learning classes, profesional workshop will ensure a faster and more efficient response in case of disasters and a closer cooperation in case of disasters. Finalized: 1) Cross-Border Strategy for risks prevention and disaster management at the level of Bihor-Hajdu Bihar Euroregion was developed within the project; 2) Hungarian and English languages learning classes organized for 50 firefighters and other relevant key personnel, in the field of disaster management at the level of Bihor county; 3) Elaboration of the Technical Drawings for extending and endowing the Regional Cross-Border Training Centre for Integrated Preparedness for Interventions in Case of Emergencies based in Borș (RO); 4) 1 professional workshop in the frame of the "Search and Rescue" International Conference with participation of central authorities (Ministries, National Inspectorates, County Inspectorates), relevant European and other international networks (European Civil Protection Forum, European Union Fire Officers Associations, European Fire Fighters Union alliance), representatives from European institutions (EU Civil Protection Mechanism) in order to promote new initiatives of cooperation in the field of risk prevention and disaster management at the level of cross-border areas. This event had an attendance of 150 participants; 4) Hungarian and English languages classes were organized for 30 fire fighters and other relevant key personnel, working in the field of disaster management at the level of Hajdu-Bihar county; 5)The technical drawings necessary for the renovation of the Regional Cross-border Training Center for Integrated Preparedness for Interventions in Case of Emergencies based in Hajdúszoboszló; 6) A Regional Cross-border Training Center for Integrated Preparedness for Interventions in Case of Emergencies renovated and equipped located in Hajdúszoboszló. 7) A Regional Cross-border Training Center for Integrated Preparedness for Interventions in Case of Emergencies, renovated and equipped, located in Borș(RO); 8) Procurement and delivery of the Virtual Environment Training Platform to the LB; 9) Installation of the Virtual Environment Training Platform and the training of the internal staff who will use the training platform necessary for ensuring the preparedness at the level of the Regional Cross-border Training Center for Integrated Preparedness for Interventions in Case of Emergencies; 10) Joint protocols and interventions procedures, to be applied in case of main risks of disaster in Bihor Hajdu-Bihar Euroregion; 11) 1 Training program for professional and volunteers fire fighters from Hungary and Romania.

Crossrisks project main objective aims at focusing both on combining public policy tools and investments in the preparedness infrastructure in order to improve the quality of interventions for the whole number of people benefiting from emergency response services in Bihor Hajdu-Bihar Euroregion. The main targeted results will be represented by: - the Cross-Border Strategy for the risk prevention and disaster management in the Bihor Hajdu Bihar Euroregion; - the extension, modernizing and jointly operating of two complementary Regional Cross-border Training Centers for Integrated Preparedness for Interventions in Case of Emergencies which will be situated in Bors and Hajdúszoboszló localities (which will encompass also the virtual environment training platform in order to simulate the main risks factors that can occur in the cross-border areas and which would develop fire officers’ competences related to the mastering and practice of command chain processes in local and cross-border suppression operations on fires, explosions, industrial accidents) and which will ensure backdraught and flashover conditions in special pre and post events; - the language learning classes for the personnel working in the field of disaster management, - the joint protocols for interventions, - the common training programs of professional and volunteers fire fighters from Bihor-Hajdu Bihar Euroregion. The attaining of the above mentioned outputs, Crossrisks project will enable to achieve two main results, which derives one from another: on the one hand, it will bring innovation elements in the cooperation process from this cross-border region regarding the risk prevention and disaster management that could be replicated in other border regions from Romania and Hungary and, on the other hand, it will improve the emergency response services that covers more than 1,1 million citizens living in BH-HB Euroregion.