15.11.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L2977 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 23 October 2001 establishing a Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assis- tance interventions (2001/792/EC, Euratom) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof, and to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 203 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Whereas: (1) While action by the Community to implement the reso- lution of the Council and of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, of 8 July 1991 on improving mutual aid between Member States in the event of natural or tech- nological disaster (°) has helped protect people, the environment and property, the need is now to ensure even better protection in the event of natural, technolog- ical, radiological and environmental emergencies, including accidental marine pollution, occurring both inside and outside the European Union, and to strengthen the provisions of the resolution. (2)  The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNJECE) Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, which contains provisions on () OJ C 29 E, 30.1.2001, p. 287. (¥ Opinion delivered on 14 June 2001 (not yet published in the Offi- cial Journal). () O] C 139, 11.5.2001, p. 27. () O] C 253, 12.9.2001, p. 17. () O] C 198, 27.7.1991, p. 1. matters such as prevention, emergency preparedness, public information and participation, industrial accident notification systems, response and mutual assistance, entered into force on 19 April 2000. The Convention was approved by the Community by Council Decision 98/685EC (9). (3) A mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions could supplement the current Community action programme in the field of civil protection (') by making support available in the event of major emergencies which may require urgent response action. It would facilitate the mobilisation of intervention teams, experts and other resources, as required, through a reinforced Community civil protec- tion structure consisting of a monitoring and informa- tion centre and a common emergency communication and information system. It would also provide an oppor- tunity for collecting validated emergency information, for disseminating that information to the Member States and for sharing lessons learnt from interventions. (4 Such a mechanism would take due account of the rele- vant Community legislation and international commit- ments. This Decision should therefore not affect the reciprocal rights and obligations of the Member States under bilateral or multilateral treaties, which relate to the matters covered by this Decision. (5)  Prevention is of significant importance for the protec- tion against natural, technological and environmental disasters and would require further action to be consid- ered. () O] L 326, 3.12.1998, p. 1. () Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999 establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection (O] L 327, 21.12.1999, p. 53).