A panel discussion convened in Brussels marked the official inauguration of a series of events leading up to the extensive EU civil protection exercise named “Magnitude”. Scheduled for October 2024, this exercise will be hosted by Baden-Württemberg, marking a significant milestone as the first German state to undertake such an EU-wide initiative.
During the period from January to May 2024, a multitude of gatherings, including meetings, panel discussions, and workshops, were organized by the project, drawing participation from both national and international partners. One such event titled “Beyond Borders: New Approaches to International Civil Protection in Baden-Württemberg” was held in Berlin on March 21, 2024. German Interior Minister Thomas Strobl led discussions alongside esteemed representatives such as Michaela Schärer from the German Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport, Felix Bloch from the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, Jessica Däbritz, Head of the Crisis Management and Civil Protection Division at the Federal Ministry of the Interior of Germany, Alexander Throm, Member of the German Bundestag, and Christian Resch, Resilience Solutions. Minister Strobl underscored the collaborative nature of civil protection efforts and emphasized the importance of inclusive communication strategies, particularly for vulnerable groups within the population. Additionally, a series of workshops were conducted to address various focal points outlined for the exercise, including cross-border cooperation in civil protection and search and rescue operations. Moreover, in March, the first joint meeting of national and international partners convened at the Karlsruhe Regional Council, providing an opportunity for partners to familiarize themselves with the planned training areas and initiate scenario planning.
