The Civil Defense of Cyprus has received approval from the EU for inclusion in the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP)

The Civil Defense Forces of Cyprus have received a positive response from the European Commission following a request for registration and inclusion of the country's search and rescue group in the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP).

The European Union established the ECPP to promote European cooperation in the field of civil protection. Its aim is to ensure a faster, coordinated, and more effective European response to technological disasters and natural disasters. The ECPP gathers resources and units from 25 member states and participating states, ready to respond promptly to requests for assistance from countries affected by natural disasters.

The resources and units may include rescue and medical teams, experts, specialized equipment, or transport units.

According to a statement from the Ministry of the Interior, for the search and rescue squad to be included in the units, it must receive certification according to international standards from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Following this process, the certification of the country's adequacy and professionalism was completed, allowing the Republic of Cyprus through its civil defense to respond to search and rescue operations after natural disasters, both domestically and abroad, - the statement says.