Emergency Response Coordination Centre

The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) serves as the operational centre of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), which was established by Regulation 836/2021, amending Decision 1313/2013.

The UCPM represents enhanced cooperation between all 27 European Union (EU) Member States and 10 additional participating states, with a focus on prevention, preparedness, and response.

The ERCC coordinates the delivery of assistance of the EU Member States and the 10 UCPM participating states to disaster-stricken countries, such as relief items, expertise, civil protection teams and specialised equipment. The centre is an integral part of the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), and it operates continuously 24/7 from its headquarters in Brussels.

When an emergency hits, the UCPM can be activated following a request for assistance. The request can be made by a national authority, a United Nation (UN) body or a recognized international organisation, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) or the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Following a request for assistance, the ERCC acts as a coordination hub between the civil protection authorities of the EU Member States, the 10 additional participating states to the UCPM, the affected country, and the humanitarian aid community to mobilise assistance and ensure the rapid deployment of emergency support. The centre also ensures cooperation and coherence of EU action at an inter-institutional level, focusing on coordination mechanisms with the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Council and EU Member States. The 24/7 communication and information exchange between the ERCC, the EU Member States and UCPM participating states is based on the Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS), which is a web-based notification application.

The ERCC also serves as the central point of contact when the Solidarity Clause is invoked and/or when the Integrated Political Response Coordination (IPCR) arrangement is triggered by the EU Presidency (on its own initiative or following a request by an EU member state).