EU announces launch of European Medical Corps

The European Union announced on Monday the creation of the European Medical Corps (EMC), a special agency dedicated to providing medical assistance as well as first response expertise and technology from across the EU to threats both within and without the EU.

The foundations for the EMC was laid during the 2014 Ebola Crisis, when various organizations across the EU scrambled to present a unified response, revealing several challenges preventing these organizations from operating effectively. The “White Helmets” initiatives presented by the French and German governments in late 2014 eventually paved the way for the formation of the EMC.

The EMC will be composed of various emergency medical and public health teams from across the EU. It will be equipped with mobile biosafety laboratories as well as emergency evacuation equipment. The teams will be supported by medical assessment and coordination experts and will be provided with logistical support teams.

Nine member states have agreed to participate in the EMC, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic.

In order for to join the EMC, a member state must have a medical or other response team meet strict criteria set by the EU. Benefits of becoming a part of the EMC includes receiving funding from the EU’s budget, as well as training and certification funding directly from that budget for the team.