From January 29th to February 2nd, 2024 a European team of experts, supported by the European Commission and CMCC, is taking part in an on-site mission to Greece. Their objective is to assist local authorities through a Thematic Peer Review focused on the wildfire risk management system in the country, aiming at providing recommendations to enhance it.

After the devastating wildfire events occurred in recent years, in September 2023 the General Secretariat of Civil Protection, Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece, requested a Peer Review of wildfire risk management capabilities under the UCPM (Union Civil Protection Mechanism) Peer Review Programme. Under this framework, the European Commission’s Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) supports Member States, Participating States to the UCPM, eligible Third Countries and the European Neighbourhood Policy countries to review their disaster risk management (DRM) policies and practices by taking stock of strengths and weaknesses, and putting forward recommendations to increase their effectiveness.

In the week of January 29th – February 2nd, 2024, five independent experts (peers) from France, Spain, Norway, Portugal, and Italy selected by the European Commission will participate in an on-site mission to Greece to conduct a thematic peer review on wildfire risk management system within the UCPM Peer Review Programme 2020-2024 cycle. CMCC experts from the Risk Assessment and Adaptation Strategies division are taking part in this on-site mission to Greece serving as facilitators for the implementation of the Peer Review. This role mirrors their involvement in previous disaster risk management Peer Reviews conducted in Romania (2022) and Moldova (2023). With the aim of supporting the peers in identifying areas for improvements and highlighting good practices within the wildfire risk management system in Greece, they will participate in multi-stakeholders meetings with public authorities, civil society organizations, academic and private sector entities, and collect views and information on managing wildfire risk in the country.

Based on an independent analysis, wildfire Peer Reviews are a strategic tool for strengthening resilience against wildfires at the European, national, and sub-national level, with the primary objective to exchange knowledge through independent analyses conducted by experts from UCPM countries.

This work will allow Greek authorities to improve wildfire risk management capabilities and identify better approaches to policy and operations. Moreover, it will facilitate mutual learning and exchange of good practices, raise awareness among stakeholders involved in wildfire risk management in the reviewed country, and propose concrete recommendations.

The process will conclude with the preparation of a final report that will be handed over to the Greek government.

For more information:

• European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations – UCPM Peer review programme
• Peer Review of the Disaster Risk Management project – CMCC
• GREECE: thematic peer review on wildfire risk management (factsheet)
• Disaster risk management in Romania: a peer review to highlight good practices and areas of improvement
• The Peer Review report “Romania 2023”
• Disaster risk management in the Republic of Moldova: sharing good practices and highlighting areas of improvement