A bill prepared by the interior ministry covering the handling of destructive phenomena, from natural disasters and earthquakes to pandemics, accidents and fires, has been put out for public consultation.
More specifically, disasters which the bill seeks to address in the territory of the Republic include: earthquake, landslide or ground subsidence, flood, cyclone, tornado, sea level rise, marine pollution, drought, coastal erosion, storm or sea disturbance, tsunami or other natural disaster, technological accident, fire, explosion, pandemic, epidemic, accident, shipwreck, climate change, air pollution, soil desertification or other serious event, the scale of which causes or may cause risks to the life or health or welfare of a significant number of persons or extensive consequences to the environment or natural resources of the Republic.
The Civil Protection Law of 2026 provides for actions during or immediately after any disaster to protect people’s lives and health, to address their immediate living needs, to ensure provision of aid and support to mitigate the disaster’s effects, and to protect property, the natural environment and wildlife.
At the same time, measures will be taken for society, the environment and the economy to return to normality after a crisis.
Implementation framework
To implement the above, a Basic National Crisis Management Plan (in peacetime) for natural and man-made disasters will be applied, as approved by the cabinet, and includes the Special National Plans (SNPs) drawn up based on it. It is also noted that a National Crisis Management Coordination Centre will operate.
This is an operations centre from which coordination of all response forces during a crisis is exercised.
To address extreme phenomena and situations, the police, the National Guard and other ministry departments and services, independent services, local government bodies, universities, private enterprises and citizens, as well as any essential service, will be mobilised.
Civil protection definition
Under the bill, “civil protection” includes any measure which:
Forms a type of defence against hostile attack or deprives any hostile attack of all or part of its energy, regardless of whether this measure is taken before, during or after the attack in question, but does not include the construction and maintenance of shelters intended for use by the Republic’s armed forces.
Constitutes a way of dealing with a disaster or limiting its results and includes systematic actions for prevention, planning, training, preparation, response and handling of its effects, regardless of whether the measure is taken preventively or during or after the disaster in question.
Under the bill, for the provision of protection from disaster or hostile attack, any building, structure or excavation will be used, unless these are intended for use by the Republic’s armed forces.
According to the bill, “crisis” means a disaster or threatened disaster which may occur either from natural and/or man-made factors or from hostile or threatened hostile attack.
Crisis management structure
Responsibility for handling the above phenomena will lie with a Ministerial Crisis Management Team. At the same time, a National Civil Protection Mechanism is being established to improve the Republic’s effectiveness at all stages of the disaster and hostile attack management cycle, namely prevention, readiness, response and recovery.
The National Mechanism has the following objectives:
- Prevention or reduction of the potential effects of disasters and hostile attacks.
- Cultivation of a prevention mindset, particularly through information and training actions.
- Public awareness and preparation for disasters and hostile attacks.
- Enhancement of cooperation between departments and involved bodies.
- Strengthening readiness for dealing with disasters or hostile attacks at national level.
- Facilitation of rapid and effective response in case of existing or threatened disasters or hostile attacks, amongst other things, by taking measures to blunt their immediate consequences.
- Increasing availability and use of scientific knowledge regarding disasters and hostile attacks.
The cabinet exercises general supervision and guidance of the National Civil Protection Mechanism.
In case of hostile action or threatened hostile action which threatens the life or property of the civilian population, or in case of disaster or threatened disaster, for the handling of which mass mobilisation of manpower or resources that the Republic does not have in sufficiency at the given time and place is required, the national coordinator may declare a state of civil protection, either in the entire territory of the Republic or in a specific area, with the aim of immediate implementation of civil protection measures to protect any persons or their property, as well as to protect natural resources and the environment.
