The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has chaired a new meeting, conducted by videoconference, of the State Committee for the Coordination of Civil Protection (CECO), whose objective has been to analyze the development of the measures implemented against COVID-19 in the whole of the National Civil Protection System.
Grande-Marlaska has led the meeting at the Department's headquarters, accompanied by the Undersecretary of the Interior, Isabel Goicoechea, and the Director General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, Leonardo Marcos.
The Minister of the Interior thanked everyone for their availability and their great work, at the moment when we are immersed in managing the crisis, and stressed the importance of maintaining close coordination between all the administrations and agencies involved to reinforce the National Civil Protection System and make it more effective. "Together we will beat the virus," he said.
The National Civil Protection System
The National Civil Protection System (SNPC), whose functional direction in this emergency corresponds to the Minister of the Interior, was activated with the entry into force of the state of alarm. This allowed the immediate constitution of the territorial emergency management bodies, giving a uniform response throughout the national territory. On this occasion, its activation has the mission of supporting the National Health System in managing the crisis caused by COVID-19-
The SNPC is made up of all the capacities of the Public Administrations and of all societies, capable of being used in cases of catastrophes to ensure the protection of people and property, highlighting the Civil Protection and Emergency services of the State and Communities. Autonomous and local Corporations, the Military Emergency Unit, firefighters, forest and environmental agents, 112 centers, etc. Also, the Volunteer Groups that collaborate especially at the local level participate, as well as the Spanish Red Cross.
In addition, from the Ministry of the Interior, Spain participates in the European Civil Protection Mechanism, an organism that coordinates the actions of the States and which today has approved the creation of a strategic stock of medical supplies.
