The EU-RESPOND consortium officially launched its three-year project with a two-day Kick-off Meeting held on 12–13 November 2025 at the DG ECHO headquarters in Brussels. The meeting brought together representatives from the European Commission and all consortium partners to confirm the project’s strategic direction, operational framework, and next steps..
During the opening session, DG ECHO underlined the strategic importance of the project, particularly as the only EU-funded HNS exercise series for third countries following the discontinuation of previous programmes. Commission representatives highlighted that the exercises will not only support partner countries in developing robust national HNS procedures but will also train EU teams for deployments outside the EU. The project will contribute to the Union Disaster Resilience Goals and the practical implementation of the newly revised EU Host Nation Support Guidelines (2024).
The consortium presented its integrated methodology for the planned exercises in Armenia, Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten, and Tunisia, highlighting a strong focus on local ownership, realistic risk-based scenarios, and a comprehensive Host Nation Support training approach.
With the kick-off successfully completed, EU-RESPOND is now entering its design phase, laying the groundwork for a multi-regional effort that will enhance cooperation, strengthen preparedness, and promote European civil protection standards beyond the Union’s borders.
