Serbia National Platform

History

The Government of Serbia has established the national platform for DRR on 24 January 2013, introducing the National Emergency Management Headquarters (NEMH) acting as the national platform for DRR in the international community. 

In accordance with the current law on DRR and emergency management (2018), the national platform is a platform for considering and defining issues of greatest importance for the system of DRR and emergency management, which: ensures the exchange of opinions, knowledge, innovations, and experiences in the field of DRR; proposes policy measures and activities for DRR and emergency management; considers development of strategies, plans and programmes that are of interest for risk reduction and emergency management; and strengthens cooperation and coordination mechanisms at the national and international levels.

Structure

The NEMH is a political and expert governmental body formed with the aim of mainstreaming DRR policies and activities, as well as coordinating and managing protection and rescue activities in emergencies. 

The Chairperson of NEMH is the Minister of the Interior (as the Commander), and the Assistant Minister of the Interior and Head of the Sector for Emergency Management is the Head of NEMH. Other members of the NEMH are the following: 

• Ministers responsible for foreign affairs; finance; defence; culture; economy; agriculture, forestry and water management; environmental protection; and environmental protection; construction, transport and infrastructure; mining and energy; domestic and foreign trade; justice; public administration and local self-government; education; health; labour, employment, veteran and social affairs; information and telecommunications; and public investment
• Prime Ministers of autonomous provinces
• Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija
• Experts from the Ministry of Interior and the Serbian Army
• Red Cross of Serbia and Mountain Rescue Service of Serbia
• Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities
• Volunteer Fire Association and other relevant organizations
• Directors of the special governmental organizations responsible for seismology, hydrology, meteorology, water management and forestry
• Directors of public companies, business associations and other legal entities
• Representatives from scientific and research institutions, academia, humanitarian organizations, civil society and citizen associations, as well as other institutions which, based on their portfolio, may be part of the protection and rescue system in case of emergency
• National broadcasting television 

The NEMH as the national platform can organize expert operational bodies with the aim to work on reduction of specific risks. These bodies may include representatives from scientific and research institutions, academia, civil society and NGOs, public and private companies, and other relevant stakeholders in this area.

Mandate

Coordination of the activities in the field of emergency management on national, regional and local levels, as well as implementation of DRR concepts into national and local policies, sustainable development strategies, and protection and rescue strategies.

Budget

The activities of the NEMH are financed through the budget of the Government of Serbia and resources of the authorities that are members of the NEMH.