ROLE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE - SCEPC

 

CIVIL EMERGENCY PLANNING

 

The Civil Emergency Planning (CEP) in NATO is one of the components of the general security and stability conception in the Euroatlantic region. Civil Emergency Planning remains basically in the scope of responsibilities of the particular Alliance states. However, considering the effectiveness and cohesion of NATO policy in the area of civil emergency planning, cooperation both between particular Alliance countries and on NATO level is indispensable. Such cooperation aims at coordinating and harmonizing the national actions plans, capabilities and potential of the states in the said scope, and at ensuring the highest possible effectiveness in the area of using civil resources for joint support on execution of the strategic objectives of the Alliance.

 

The civil emergency planning objectives include:

(a) maintaining continuity of management in emergency situations (including warfare);

(b) maximal increase in using national resources, civil capabilities and infrastructure in response to civil and military demands;

(c) reduction of  vulnerability to potential threats and civil protection against such threats;

(d) increasing the possibilities of civil defence (e.g. warning and alarming, rescue, medical care, etc), taking cooperation with military forces into particular consideration.

 

The North Atlantic Council (NAC) determined some specific functions for civil emergency planning in NATO (NATO CEP) [2] purposes, which include the following:

(a) civil support for military actions of the Alliance in case of operations conducted on the basis of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty[3];

(b) support of crisis response actions, which do not result from Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty;

(c) support of national authorities in case of emergency threats of civil nature;

(d) support of national authorities in the area of civil protection, preparations in case of threats resulting from using chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents (CBRN) and the effects of using such agents;

(e) cooperation with the Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries, the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) and the Istanbul Initiative states.

 

FUNCTION OF SCEPC (Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee) of NATO

 

The Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee (SCEPC) is subject directly to the North Atlantic Council. Its basic function is to coordinate tasks in the area of the CEP and determining its strategic directions. The SCEPS defines also the directions of the CEP-related preparatory tasks to lay down political guidelines prepared by the North Atlantic Council. 

Due to the transformation of the entire NATO under way, the role of the SCEPC is subject to certain modifications. The changes concerning the NATO CEP and the function of the SCEPC are made for the most part in so called CEP Planning and Review Cycle. Within its framework, the Ministerial Guidance for Civil Emergency Planning have been prepared and agreed on the Alliance forum.

In addition, the Alliance and Partner (Partnership for Peace – PfP) countries complete the Civil Emergency Planning Questionnaire (CEPQ) every four years and on voluntary principle. Analysis of this CEP Questionnaire constitutes the basis to define priorities for civil emergency planning purposes. The main task of the CEP Questionnaire, completed in particular countries, is to collect information on the following areas:

 

- legal regulations, plans and procedures in the scope of crisis management;

- the experts supporting CEP in the scope of preparations to crisis management;

- prepared communications measures, which aim at ensuring crisis management;

- cooperation of civil and military authorities;

- trainings and exercises;

- resources;

- planning and revision of the previously completed plans.

 

The SCEPC, on behalf of the North Atlantic Council, is responsible for political directions and general coordination of the CEP and preparations on the NATO level. The above requires governing these components of civil emergency planning, which cannot be entrusted to separate countries without coordination, cooperation or joint actions within the Alliance. In addition, it is important to ensure informing NATO on progresses of national plans in the area of CEP and on entering them into force. If it is well-justified by the situation, the Alliance may provide recommendations and support in the abovementioned scope.

 

In case of a threat, the Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee may operate in the “26 Format” (in a group of the representatives of the NATO Member States exclusively – in such case it is subject to the NAC) or in the extended composition, with participation of the Partnership for Peace countries (in so called „EPAC format” – in such case it is subject to the Euro Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)).

 

TASKS OF THE SCEPC

 

Within performing its duties, the SCEPC acts in the following way (in the area of its responsibility):

1) defines priorities for the NATO CEP, pursuant to the directions determined in the Ministerial Guidance for Civil Emergency Planning;

2) develops the NATO CEP and maintains the CEP Planning and Review Cycle, considering three main tools that are:

(a) the Ministerial Guidance for Civil Emergency Planning,

(b) the CEP Action Plan,

(c) review and evaluation of the CEP on the NATO and national level – Civil Emergency Planning Questionnaire – CEPQ);

3) governs operations of the Planning Boards and Committees – PB&Cs and in particular:

(a) ensures the execution of the Guidance of the North Atlantic Council and the priorities worked out by the SCEPC by the PB&Cs;

(b) coordinates the PB&Cs’ activities, evaluates the effects of their actions, provides opinions and submits their reports to the NAC;

(c) provides opinions on all the changes connected with the PB&Cs structure and functions;

4) performs periodical review of the Planning Boards and Committees (PB&Cs) structures in order to adjust them for rapid response on changing needs of the Alliance and partner countries purposes;

5) advises the North Atlantic Council (NAC) on issues concerning the accessibility and effective using of civil resources in the course of crisis and provides the NAC with information in the area of CEP-related issues, which influence the Alliance policy;

6) while contacting the Permanent Representations to NATO, makes decisions on appointing experts for the CEP and, directly, the PR&C purposes;

7) organizes planning and administrative structures, indispensable for executing civil emergency planning tasks;

8) ensures coordination of the CEP, NATO military authorities and other Alliance entities-related issues;

9) facilitates integration of civil support and advisory in civil cases in the area of military operational plans of the Alliance;

10) recommends implementing specific NATO Crisis Response System measures to the Council and Strategic Command;

11) develops working contacts with the international organizations and institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to provide response for humanitarian appeals, supporting at the same time NATO emergency operations;

12) recommends the CEP-related issues for the Ministerial Guidance purposes to the particular countries;

13)  facilitates development and improvement of the Partnership for Peace by means of increasing the contribution of the partner countries in the CEP-related decision-making process;

14) supervises the works of the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) in the EAPC format and submits the proposals on developing practical cooperation in the area of international support in the course of critical situations and crisis response-related operations, with participation of the partner countries, to the EAPC.

 

COMPOSITION AND MODE OF WORKS OF THE SCEPC

 

SCEPC is composed of the representatives of the particular Alliance countries. It is also composed of: the representative of the International Military Staff (IMS), who represents the Military Committee (MC) at the same time, as well as the representatives of each of the NATO Strategic Commands. The members of the SCEPC may appoint experts from the capital cities of the Member States and PR&C (including the Chairmen of the PB&C) for works purposes. The SCEPS Executive Secretariat is ensured by the Committee Secretariat.

 

Plenary Session and Permanent Session

 

SCEPC meets on the Plenary Session and the Permanent Session. They both constitute an integral part of the same advisory and decision-making processes, but are different from the qualitative point of view. Both the Permanent and Plenary Session may be held in the “26 format” (only the NATO members) and in the “EAPC format” (the Alliance and PfP countries).

 

The Plenary Session is being held twice a year. In its course the countries are represented by the executives responsible for the CEP coordination. Regarding their high position within the national government structures, the Plenary Session Representatives handle strategic issues and usage of the national resources in the course of crisis. The above includes the speeches of the Plenary Session Representatives and their continuous engagement (apart from the plenary session) in the SCEPC matters. The Plenary Session is chaired by the General Secretary or Deputy /Assistant of the General Secretary for Infrastructure, Logistics and Civil Emergency Planning.

 

The Permanent Session is being held as often as necessary and the meeting is chaired by the Deputy /Assistant of the General Secretary for Infrastructure, Logistics and Civil Emergency Planning or the CEP Director. The participants of the Permanent Session are usually the representatives of the national representations to NATO or, depending on needs, experts from the capital cities. Report from the SCEPC Permanent Session may be submitted directly to the Council (NAC) and aims at preparing and implementing the CEP policy.

 

EAPC Format

 

SCEPC meets in the EAPC format in the course of the Permanent Session as often as required (not every session has to be held in the EAPC format) and twice a year during the Plenary Session. While SCEPC, pursuant to the adopted policy, reserves its right to make decisions on the NATO countries-related issues exclusively, the EAPC Partners should be engaged in the decision-making process concerning all the issues of common interest, as early as possible and without prejudice to initial consultations made in the “26 format”. In cases concerning resources and the EAPC structures, such as EADRCC, EAPC shall be engaged in the decision-making process. SCEPC shall continuously aim at precise defining, which cases may be decided within the NATO states exclusively, and which may be opened for Partners in the course of the decision-making process.

 

Planning Boards and Committees PB&Cs

 

The Planning Boards and Committees PB&Cs include the following:

(a)  Planning Board For Ocean Shipping - PBOS;

(b)  Planning Board For Inland Surface Transport - PBIST;

(c) Civil Aviation Planning Committee - CAPC;

(d) Food And Agriculture Planning Committee -FAPC;

(e) Industrial Planning Committee - IPC;

(f)  Civil Communications Planning Committee - CCPC;

(g) Civil Protection Committee - CPC;

(h) Joint Medical Committee - JMC.

PLANNING BOARD FOR OCEAN SHIPPING – PBOS.

PBOS is engaged in planning of the maritime transport for humans and goods in critical situations and in case of conflicts, both within and outside the NATO responsibility area.

 

PLANNING BOARD FOR INLAND SURFACE TRANSPORT - PBIST.

PBEIST coordinates planning of usage of the following in the course of critical and conflict situation:

1 ) seaports, anchorages as well as road and rail transport and inland navigation, including the respective infrastructure;

2) overland transport of liquid fuels, oils and lubricants, excluding pipeline transport;

3) transporting ammunition, explosives and other hazardous shipments. It is also responsible for service coordination on short sea routes in cooperation with the Planning Board for Ocean Shipping, which is generally in charge of maritime transport.

 

CIVIL AVIATION PLANNING COMMITTEE - CAPC
Operations of CAPC are based on the principle that ensuring security of civil aviation requires nationwide mutual connections of the entire aviation to be considered. The main and basic objective of the civil aviation planning in NATO is to support achieving maximal availability by the civil aviation means of all the Member States in the course of crisis and during war as well as optimization – in the scope of using by the Alliance – of civil aviation, both for military and civil purposes.

 

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE PLANNING COMMITTEE - FAPC
FAPC aims at monitoring of preparedness of national civil plans for food and agriculture-related threats in the Member States. On this basis, FAPC prepares recommendation for SCEPC to undertake adequate actions by the specific countries – the above is considered as coordination, mutual cooperation or joint actions within the Alliance.

 

             

INDUSTRIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE – IPC
IPC works out plans during peace, which ensure continuous, equal and effective distribution of important deliveries of industrial products and services, both for military and civil purposes. It coordinates mobilization and using industrial resources by the Member States in order to support general defence-related efforts during crisis and war. 

 

             

JOINT MEDICAL COMMITTEE – JMC
JMC prepares such joint civil and military plans, which cannot be properly prepared by the individual Member States without approval, mutual cooperation or general actions taken within the Alliance.

 

             

CIVIL COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING COMMITTEE - CCPC
CCPC is responsible for civil communications-related issues, according with the NATO preparations in case of threats. The aim of civil communications planning is to ensure maintenance of communications services for political, economic and military purposes. In this context, the “civil communications” expression shall be understood as telecommunication services and means, post services and other relevant services provided in this scope by the NATO states, excluding telecommunication equipment, which is in possession of the military forces and NATO.

 

 

CIVIL EMERGENCY PLANNING WITHIN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE 

Civil Emergency Planning (CEP) within the Partnership for Peace (PfP) focuses on development of planning in case of threats under civil and democratic supervision of state structures, on the procedures and preparation plans for humanitarian support and in case of disasters as well as on civil and military cooperation. The Programme is executed by means of exercises, workshops, seminaries, trainings, meetings and visits. Its essence is a practical regional cooperation and maintaining good neighborhood relations. Most of actions taken within this cooperation are focused on preparations planning in case of disasters and improving international crisis response mechanisms.

Cooperation of the NATO countries in the scope of providing support in case of disasters is being facilitated by the existing preparedness mechanism of the NATO General Headquarters, which aims at:

              - immediate distribution of official information among the Member States in case of serious disaster within the Alliance;

              - fast sharing information on threats between the Member States and information on providing necessary aid to the afflicted country. Such support may include: drugs, vaccines, food, clothes, tents, prefabricated elements for residential construction purposes, water treatment devices, rescue teams and equipments, medical teams, field hospitals, expert services and others;

              - providing aid to the afflicted country within bilateral agreements, from governmental resources and via the NGOs (of the Member States and non-member states) in a way to support supply shortages preventing and simultaneously to reduce unnecessary (often troublesome) aid and duplication of the activities.  

 

The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) plays a key role in executing the abovementioned tasks.

 

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[1] Prepared in the Crisis Management and Defence Department of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, on the basis of the NATO document AC WP(2002)-REV2 and NATO HANDBOOK (NATO2006, HB-ENG-0406).

[2] Found in document PO(2000)30-REV2.

[3] Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty (text pursuant to: Journal of Laws of 1999, No. 87, item 970): The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.”