MEPs call for the UCPM to address issues facing volunteer firefighters in Europe
A cross-party group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have called for new EU rules on civil protection to recognise the role of volunteers in disaster response, and to address challenges facing these volunteers which they have linked to the Working Time Directive.
On Tuesday 14 April, the European Parliament published amendments proposed by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to the EU proposal for a revised Regulation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). This Regulation will set rules and funding to improve EU responses to major disasters, while also introducing mechanisms to improve knowledge sharing, emergency health preparedness, and public warning in Europe.
However, several MEPs have pointed out that these new rules, while welcome, can only be effective if emergency services have sufficient personnel to respond to major disasters, noting that fire services in many Member States rely heavily on volunteers. Some countries have faced issues in recruiting and maintaining volunteer firefighters in recent years.
In addition to asking for changes to aspects already covered in the UCPM, MEPs have therefore proposed new amendments addressing the challenges facing volunteer firefighters in Europe. For example, minimum rest periods for workers in the Working Time Directive have been interpreted as applying to volunteer firefighters in some EU Member States, disrupting the organisation of 24-hour standby shifts in some fire services, and affecting the ability of volunteers to balance their volunteer service with professional commitments. MEPs have also highlighted other difficulties facing Volunteer firefighters, including with insurance coverage, operational support and training, and the recognition of qualifications.
To address these concerns, nine MEPs have proposed that the UCPM create a dedicated legal status at an EU level for volunteers involved in emergency response, such as volunteer firefighters and military reservists. This status could provide clear rules to ensure that these volunteers have clear insurance coverage, facilitate cross-border recognition of qualifications, introduce appropriate exemptions for the Working Time Directive for volunteers on standby, and improve access to training, equipment and appropriate support.
The amendment was proposed by Grégory Allione (France), Pascal Arimont (Belgium), Olivier Chastel (Belgium), Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu (Romania), Martin Hojsík (Slovakia), Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Slovakia), Jérémy Decerle (France), Michal Wiezik (Slovakia), and Katri Kulmuni (Finland).
