17/05/2012  - 

How should we protect citizens from disasters caused by nature and men? How should we organise Europe's disaster response capacities in a coherent, efficient and cost-effective way? And how can we prevent crises from happening in the first place? These challenging questions will be tackled at the Sofia Security Forum which takes place in Bulgaria's capital today.

Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva will address the participants – representatives of Bulgaria's national administration and regional authorities, NGOs, businesses and academic institutions. She will outline the current work of the European Commission in the field of civil protection, progress towards setting up a veritable European crisis response centre and work on the new legislative proposal for disaster management in Europe. The Commissioner will underline the need for good policies and investment in prevention, which is indispensable for cutting disasters' costs and decreasing damage.

The Sofia Security Forum will also discuss the exchange of best practices in civil protection, opportunities for regional and European cooperation, and research, technology and business solutions for crisis prevention and management.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the deputy Prime Minister Tzvetan Tzvetanov, and the Minister of Defense Aniu Anguelov, will also speak at the event.