Last update: 03/2004
top
What is PROCIV-NET?
Objectives
How does it work?
Achievements
Who benefits?
The role of IDA
Technical information
Documentation
What is PROCIV-NET?
PROCIV-NET is a network, which interconnects designated national contact points and other available resources that deal with environmental and civil protection emergencies.
It is a reliable common emergency notification system that enables communication, mutual assistance and sharing of multilingual information between the monitoring and information centre of the European Commission and the operational contact points of the Member States (e.g. authorities responsible for Civil Protection and Accidental Marine Pollution).
The legal base for the establishment and management of PROCIV-NET is laid down in the Council Decision EC 2001/792 of 23/07/2001.
Top of page
Objectives
The main objective of PROCIV-NET is to electronically link the national authorities responsible for protecting citizens from natural and technological hazards. PROCIV-NET assists in improving the interoperability among the relevant authorities and ensures their permanent vigilance therefore providing immediate follow-up to requests for help.
PROCIV-NET's mission is thus to ensure better protection, primarily of people but also the environment and property, including cultural heritage, in the event of major emergencies. These can be natural, technological, radiological or environmental accidents occurring inside or outside the European Union, including accidental marine pollution.
In the medium term, PROCIV-NET will be based on a best practice approach.
Top of page
How does it work?
The project consists of both a network layer (information system based upon a central database accessible through a common web browser, over a private TCP/IP network) and an application layer.
-
Network layer, i.e. the physical network connecting the competent authorities and the contact points in the Member States and the Monitoring and Information Centre.
-
Application layer, i.e. the multilingual databases and other information systems necessary for the functioning of the mechanism and more particularly:
-
to communicate notifications,
-
to ensure communication and information sharing between the monitoring and information centre and the contact points,
-
to compile information on serums and vaccines or other medical resources and on stocks,
-
to disseminate lessons learnt from interventions. This function includes notification of emergencies, early warnings and subsequent information messages as well as follow-up of requests for assistance in emergencies.
-
Security layer, i.e. the set of systems, rules and procedures necessary for ensuring the integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the data stored and exchanged.
Top of page
Achievements
-
Certain elements of the project are still under development whilst others are in the implementation phase.
-
A preparatory report was adopted in 2000, a feasibility study was completed in 2001 and a call for tenders was successfully completed in 2002.
-
The project has been divided into three stages namely the construction of the network and the basic information system (phase I), the enhancement of the information content (phase II - feasibility study in progress) and the implementation of additional advanced functions mainly for improving security and robustness (phase III - feasibility study in progress).
Top of page
Who benefits?
Citizens: Such a system safeguards everyone in Europe as a citizen depends on the ability of emergency services to be more effective in every aspect. PROCIV-NET will ensure the optimisation of future disaster procedures and management as well as the sharing of best practices.
Relevant Civil Protection and Environmental Organisations: The new system enables the relevant organisations to promptly react, take decisions, plan and coordinate necessary activities to effectively manage emergency situations.
Public Administrations: The Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) established within the European Commission will be able to exchange operational and other information in a secure and reliable way with National Competent Authorities.
Top of page
The role of IDA
The new network will be implemented re-using existing infrastructure and generic services from IDA such as the TESTA, PKI and the CIRCA system. IDA has co-funded PROCIV-NET's development.
Top of page
Technical information
|
Project start date |
1999 |
|
Project completion date |
end 2004 |
|
Project status |
Feasibility: phase II and III, development: phase I |
|
IDA budget |
1999 € 142,000
2000 € 95,000
2001 € 20,000
2002 € 923,000
2003 € 180,000 |
|
Responsible service |
DG Environment |
|
Project coordinator |
Regis Elbez |
|
Contact |
idabc@ec.europa.eu |
|
Countries involved |
All EU Member States |
|
Background documents |
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil/pdfdocs/vademec.pdf |
Top of page
Documentation: |
Print
PROCIV-NET GIP - June 2002 (PDF)
