The Safe Borderlands project has strengthened cooperation between the fire and rescue services of Czechia and Poland along their shared border. Firefighters and other emergency response personnel have organised conferences, taken language-learning courses, held expert meetings, organised training, conducted drills, and purchased specialised equipment important for their mission.
- 03 July 2019
The project has fundamentally improved cooperation between fire brigades along the entire Czech-Polish border. In an emergency, citizens will receive assistance regardless of national boundaries.
The project has improved the disaster preparedness of Czech and Polish firefighters who respond to emergencies along the border between the two countries. It has increased the security of the region’s residents and made the area more attractive to visitors.
Working together to prepare for and contain natural disasters
Polish and Czech fire rescue services conducted joint drills, replaced worn-out specialised equipment, and held meetings on areas of common concern. Responders received training in driving fire trucks, operating chainsaws, and dealing with hazardous substances, among other activities.
In addition, participants analysed the legal and organisational framework that guides firefighter operations at the Czech-Polish border area. Revamping this framework has helped to improve fire brigade compatibility during incidents involving fire defence, water rescue, floods, traffic accidents, and environmental protection.
The project purchased new specialised equipment that Czech and Polish responders will share. It includes climbing gear, breathing equipment, specialised firefighting motor vehicles and boats, and radio stations for use during on-site interventions.
The equipment will improve the quality of cross-border drills and allow more comprehensive firefighter training. Future scheduled investment includes a new data processing system that can help responders manage and exchange information during crises.
Other organisations such as Czech police units, medical rescue services providers, public health authorities, civil protection facilities, NGOs, and citizen associations are participating in the project. Once the project ends, the region’s increased security will help improve the region’s appeal to businesses and tourists.
The importance of borderland security
The Czech-Polish border includes 47 000 square kilometres and nearly 7.1 million inhabitants. When natural disasters such as fires and floods cross national lines, firefighting authorities from different countries must cooperate seamlessly.
The project enhances the cooperation of all national bodies responsible for disaster response and security in the region. It includes adapting risk-prevention and risk-management measures for dealing with the consequences of climate change, such as erosion, fires, floods, storms, and droughts.
Polish partners include the provincial headquarters of the State Fire Service in Opole and Wroclaw. Czech partners include the fire rescue services of the Liberec, Pardubice, Hradec Kralove, Olomouc, and Moravian-Silesian regions.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Safe Borderlands” is EUR 7 936 284, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 6 745 841 through the “Interreg V-A Czech republic - Poland” programme for the 2014-2020 period. The investment falls under the priority “Technical assistance”.