18/02/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 17 February, the ambassadors of the Member States to the EU (Coreper) approved the political agreement between Parliament and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU to strengthen the Civil Protection Mechanism and its RescEU equipment reserve (see EUROPE 12560/9). This reform should enable the EU to respond more quickly and effectively to any large-scale disaster, based on lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the terms of the agreement, the European Commission will, under specific conditions, be able to directly acquire the resources needed to deploy relief more rapidly. The Civil Protection Mechanism will receive €3.319 billion (€1.263 billion from the 2021-2027 budget and €2.056 billion from the Recovery Plan), about five times more than previously. The Commission and Member States will set disaster resilience targets to support prevention and preparedness actions. (AN)