Strengthening prevention is at the center of the new draft law on Civil Protection, as stated by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias during the meeting of the permanent production and trade committee on the processing and examination of the draft law of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Policy of Protection “Civil Protection Restructuring – National Air Rescue and Air Transport Mechanism and other urgent provisions”.

According to Mr. Kikilia, the new bill that is expected to be passed in the next few days foresees, among other things, the establishment of the possibility of immediately taking additional preventive measures for the protection and safety of citizens, through the National Crisis Management and Risk Management Mechanism.

These include:

– the preventive traffic ban

– the partial suspension of the obligation to work

– the suspension of schools

– the telecommuting provision

– the preventive suspension of outdoor events, concerts, etc.

These measures will be communicated to citizens through 112 and will be immediately applicable.

In addition, the bill provides for the establishment of a Risk Assessment Committee from extreme weather phenomena. The Commission will consist of representatives of scientific bodies, such as the National Meteorological Service, and its objectives are:

a) The continuous monitoring of all dangerous natural phenomena

b) The prognosis of possible consequences on the infrastructure, safety and health of the citizens

c) The formulation of the appropriate Grading of State of Readiness of the state apparatus

d) The taking of preventive measures to protect the property, safety and health of citizens, (e.g. suspension of the obligation to work in combination with a traffic ban.

At the same time, with the new bill, the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection is given the possibility to carry out audits for the observance of preventive measures by local authorities in terms of fire protection, cleaning of rivers and streams and the implementation of anti-flooding projects. At the same time, it is foreseen that the OTAs will be subject to an emergency procedure, when it is deemed necessary to protect the safety of the citizens.

Also, through the bill, the provision for the cleaning of private plots and uncovered areas is updated.

Now, that is, citizens will be obliged to declare on a special digital platform that they have cleaned their outdoor properties, in order to avoid the risk of causing a fire. In case of omission, there is a statutory authorization for cleaning and the imposition of a fee per square meter, while in the event of a false declaration, a criminal penalty will be imposed.

In addition, it is planned to open additional fire zones in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment. The DEDDIE and ADMIE will also have the possibility to open fire zones, where there are high voltage cables, while in the camps there will be an obligation to clean up a perimeter of 100 meters, so that we do not experience again what we experienced last summer in Nea Aghialos.

At the same time, the new bill provides for the tightening of the existing provision of law 4662/2020 for the adjustment of fines for hot work – such as burning dry grass, using a wheel – etc. during the fire protection season with a maximum limit in case of recurrence from 3,000 to 50,000 euros euro.

There is also the possibility of requisitioning additional emergency measures during the stage of special political mobilization, such as the suspension of public structures and businesses, the curfew, requisition of project machinery and operators, the suspension of permits, operation on a 24-hour basis, etc.)

Furthermore, the procedures in emergency situations are simplified as due to the intensifying climate crisis, the existing structures require a greater verticalization and simplification of the procedures, as well as the taking of preventive measures of a wider extent, in order to be able to deal with extreme weather phenomena.

Target is municipalities and Regions to be able to respond directly to the requirements of civil protection.

For this reason, the possibility of the central mechanism of Civil Protection to intervene more directly and effectively with personnel, resources and means is expanded, by way of derogation from time-consuming procedures with the aim of restoring normality as soon as possible.

In addition, the new bill updates the composition and operation of the Civil Protection Coordinating Bodies (SOPP) of each level, which must be convened immediately, depending on the level of risk.

Also established are:

– The staffing of the Autonomous Directorates and the Departments of Civil Protection of the Regions and Municipalities with official, on-duty employees, who will be obliged to inform the National Coordination Center about every ongoing event in their territorial region, to respond immediately and to be in constant communication with ESKEDIK to provide timely information and informational assistance.

– The obligation of vigilance and preventive preparation of the Regions during the stage before the occurrence of a dangerous weather phenomenon

In addition, the Bill includes, among other provisions:

• The participation of additional representatives-liaisons in the National Coordinating Center of Civil Protection from bodies such as ADMIE, the telecommunication providers for matters of 112 etc.

• The establishment of a special position of Trapped Rescue Coordinator at ESKEDIK.

• The drawing up of risk response standards by type of natural disaster (fire, floods, etc.) for citizens and officials of the National Mechanism.

• Creation of a register of project machines and operators (with registration per region) at the General Secretariat of Civil Protection with a distinct schedule obligation per agency.

This registration is considered necessary to simplify the control of the adequacy of the means, to avoid double registration of the same machines, as well as for the immediate implementation of warrants in the event of the declaration of a special policy of mobilization or a state of emergency

• The transfer of the National Observatory of Athens, as well as the National Meteorological Service to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.

• By way of derogation, the leasing of tourist accommodation to meet the needs of citizens affected by natural disasters.

Also with regard to motorway concessionaires, with the aim of avoiding the risk of entrapment and exposure of drivers to danger on road networks, the following is provided for:

• The legal obligation of each concession holder to inform immediately of the existence of a civil protection incident (e.g. on the Rio-Antirrio bridge, Attiki Odos, etc.)

• At the same time, the concessionaires are obliged to provide every assistance to the forces of the Civil Protection and to comply with every indication thereof. In addition, the obligation of the representative of the concessionaire company to designate a link to ESKEDIK for better coordination of actions in the event of a dangerous incident is defined.