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DG-network: European and international cooperation

Groepsfoto DG-netwerk
On Wednesday 11 September 2024, the Network of Directors General of European Crisis Centres met for the 11th time. The meeting took place in Budapest, Hungary, as part of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The National Crisis Centre co-organised the meeting with National Crisis Centre of the Defense Administration Office of Hungary. 

European and international cooperation

This is the fourth time that the network has met in the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This underlines the importance of strengthening links between the EU and national crisis structures to support our joint efforts in crisis management. 

The meeting's central theme was European and international cooperation, with a focus on cross-border crisis management. 

The meeting was attended by 21 EU Member States, as well as Norway, Iceland and European institutions and organisations. Together, the participants discussed issues such as the security of large-scale sporting events, high-level events and visits, and cross-border crisis situations. The presence of a large number of Member States once again demonstrates the will to cooperate more closely to strengthen crisis management at European level. 

Preparation for large-scale events

The day began with high-profile sporting competitions. Firstly, Germany presented the security measures put in place around the UEFA EURO 2024 World Cup, followed by the lessons learned by Hungary for the 2020 edition of the championship, which included a significant cross-border component as it was jointly organised by 11 different countries. Portugal then presented its procedures for large-scale events, taking as examples the visit of the Pope and World Youth Day, which took place on their territory in 2023. An excellent opportunity to learn from our neighbours how they prepare for such large-scale events. 

In the afternoon, the focus was on the future. The Hungarian Presidency presented its priorities for the future of European crisis management, and the Belgian National Crisis Centre took stock of its achievements under the Belgian Presidency. This was followed by a presentation on future and emerging risks, which gave delegations the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise. 

The meeting was an excellent opportunity to discover good practice, highlight success stories and reflect together on the added value of cross-border cooperation in crisis management. 

DG Network

The Network of Directors-General of European Crisis Centres was created in 2018 on the initiative of the Belgian National Crisis Centre and is supported by the Benelux General Secretariat. It aims to develop coordination between national crisis management authorities, be mutually informed about the challenges faced by different crisis centres, share existing expertise and experiences while supporting each other in implementing common solutions at the national level.