To ensure that the euregional agreements on Emric, Eumed and the exchange of information work in practice and are known to all emergency services, it is important to practise these agreements on a regular basis. For this reason, there is a two-year exercise cycle that includes various types of exercises. The EMREX working group supports the implementation of exercise planning.
Different types of exercises take place at regular intervals:
"Wheels on the road" exercises (FTX)
The steering group has decided to organise a "wheels on the road/field training exercise" every four years. The aim of this exercise is to practise the coordination of Emric and Eumed assistance at the scene. Among other things, this exercise focussed on communication between teams from different countries, the use of guiding stations for arriving assistance units and the joint handling of the operation according to euregional procedures. The first major exercise took place on 9 November 2018. A video of it can be seen on YouTube by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM5GHiKyOi8.
Courses on digital crisis management systems
EMRIC's Dutch and Belgian partners use a digital crisis management system. The German, Belgian and Dutch colleagues in the neighbouring control centres and crisis cells have log-in data for these systems and can therefore easily monitor incidents with a (potential) cross-border impact and thus optimise the exchange of information. Courses are offered for colleagues who regularly use these systems.
Observation exercises
Colleagues from EMRIC partner organisations are regularly invited to observe exercises by other EMRIC partners to learn more about the disaster management system, the crisis structures and the working methods of the disciplines. For example, the Veiligheidsregio Zuid-Limburg has invited colleagues from EMRIC partner organisations to observe its CoPI and ROT exercises on several occasions. Several EMRIC colleagues were also able to take part in crisis team exercises at municipal level in the province of Limburg (Belgium). The University Hospital in Aachen also invited EMRIC partners to observe their evacuation exercise in 2023. In October 2019, a crisis team exercise took place in the Kreis Heinsberg, to which Dutch and Belgian colleagues were invited as observers.
Tabletop exercises (TTX)
Tabletop exercises (TTX) take place at irregular intervals. In 2017, a TTX exercise took place in Ahrweiler. This involved practising communication and the exchange of information between the operational crisis teams on both sides of the border. In 2018, an exercise was also organised for senior administrative officials or politicians so that these people on both sides of the border know how to find each other in the event of an incident. This exercise can take various forms. In 2018, the World Café method was chosen, in which a lively dialogue took place between the guests on public safety issues.
Control centre exercises
Here, the dispatchers of the control centres in the Euregio use the web application to practice requesting external assistance and exchanging information in the event of a major incident. The EMREX working group provides an exercise team that carries out the calls. Each exercise provides learning points that are followed up. The control centre exercises take place without vehicles on the road.