The Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC)

What is it?

The Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), operated by the European Commission in Brussels, is the operational heart of the Community Mechanism for Civil Protection. It is available on a 24/7 basis and is staffed by duty officers working on a shift basis. It gives countries access to the community civil protection platform. Any country affected by a major disaster – inside or outside the EU – can launch a request for assistance through the MIC.

The role of the MIC

During emergencies the MIC plays three important roles:

Communications hub: Being at the centre of an emergency relief operation, the MIC acts as a focal point for the exchange of requests and offers of assistance. This helps in cutting down on the 30 participating states’ administrative burden in liaising with the affected country. It provides a central forum for participating states to access and share information about the available resources and the assistance offered at any given point in time.

Information provision: The MIC disseminates information on civil protection preparedness and response to participating states as well as a wider audience of interested. As part of this role, the MIC disseminates early warning alerts (MIC Daily) on natural disasters and circulates the latest updates on ongoing emergencies and Mechanism interventions.

Supports co-ordination: The MIC facilitates the provision of European assistance through the Mechanism. This takes place at two levels: at headquarters level, by matching offers to needs, identifying gaps in aid and searching for solutions, and facilitating the pooling of common resources where possible; and on the site of the disaster through the appointment of EU field experts, when required.

Activation of the Mechanism – the MIC at work

Inside the EU

The Mechanism can be activated through the MIC by any participating state seeking prompt international assistance following a major disaster. A state usually calls on the Mechanism when the effects of the disaster cannot be matched by its own civil protection resources.

As soon as the MIC receives a request for assistance, the Centre immediately forwards it to its 24-hour network of national contact points. These contact points represent the participating states’ civil protection authorities. They assess their available resources and inform the MIC whether or not they are in a position to help. The MIC then matches the offers made to the needs and informs the requesting state of the type and quantity of available assistance from the Community.

Outside the EU

As the use of the Mechanism is not restricted to interventions within the European Union, any third country affected by a disaster can also make an appeal for assistance through the MIC. Following a formal request for assistance from a third country, different procedures are applied for the activation of the Mechanism. In such cases, the Commission needs to consult the Presidency of the Council so as to determine the course of action it needs to take. For instance, if the emergency takes place in an area affected by conflict or civil unrest, the Council through the Presidency may declare it to fall under the so called crisis management provisions (Chapter V of the TEU). In this case the Council plays the lead role in co-ordinating the EU response. If it is not deemed a crisis management situation, the MIC follows its general operating rules.

Despatching assistance

Arrangements for the dispatch of the accepted assistance (delivery, transport, visa requirements, customs, etc.) are made directly between the offering and requesting states. If required, the MIC may play a facilitating role. Any intervention teams or assistance sent from the EU to a disaster area remains under the direction of the national authorities of the affected country, which has the right to ask European teams to stand down at any time. European teams are subject to local law and should operate in conformity with national rules and procedures governing their work.

To facilitate the technical co-ordination of European civil protection assistance a small team of experts can be despatched on site by the MIC. This team will ensure effective liaison with local authorities and any other relevant actors so as to integrate European civil protection assistance into the overall relief effort and facilitate the work of European teams on the ground. Moreover, as they continue to monitor the emergency and assess its development, they can keep the MIC headquarter updated.

Co-ordination with other actors

Mechanism interventions in third countries, particularly in the developing world, are usually conducted in close collaboration with other actors, such as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),  the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) and the Red Cross when these are present on the ground.