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Who we are
EΦA is a high level network for all those interested in fire prevention, rescue services and civil defence in Europe. We are committed to delivering best practice models in the field of Fire Prevention in Europe. EΦA is committed to our target group without any political or commercial allegiances. Within our network we bring together senior fire professionals and burns victims’ representatives from cities all over Europe – including Berlin, London, Paris, Stockholm, Dublin, Budapest, Amsterdam, Brussels, The Hague and Warsaw. The EΦA network provides a crucial link to politicians both on European and member state level, and invites interested media and technology partners to join the network.
Why European? Europe is growing and fire prevention, rescue services and civil defence will be a cornerstone of European cooperation, especially with the growing threat of terrorism that we have upon us. We need harmonisation at European level. As a result of our network of members we can offer a forum which helps to clarify complex legislation and responsibilities. Our main task is the establishment of contacts with the relevant authorities and representatives both on European and member state level.Why Φ? The Greek letter Φ symbolises our affinity with all the languages spoken in Europe and all nations. In addition the fact that this letter is used in the Cyrillic alphabet indicates the possibility of a medium term expansion of our task area.Why Academy? Academy in its original meaning of the Greek "ακαδεμoσ": Venue for meetings. We are therefore not a school, but we offer a forum for discussion. From this place we want to focus interests and put our know-how at others' disposal. How we work Our work is specifically tailored to the needs of our partners. The starting point of all considerations is support for fire prevention, rescue services and civil defence in Europe. EΦA is permanently focused on European topics.Our Organisation We are registered under German law and recognised in Germany as a non-profit organisation. Due to the clearly structured network of our partners we are flexible and decisive. We are structured in such a way that we can respond to the changing circumstances of the European "legal jungle" quickly and effectively. Companies in the field of intervention and prevention support EΦA as Technology Partners.For further information, please contact Caroline Claeys, consultant to EΦA at the EΦA Secretariat. Tel: +32 2 743 6606 e-mail: caroline.claeys@bm.com EΦA Strategic Council The EΦA Strategic Councils the central body defining EΦA’s agenda and driving its development and working program. The working program for 2008 is the follow–up from the program that EΦA started in 2006 and is focused on gathering European comparable fire statistics and increasing consumer fire safety. On consumer fire safety the subjects in the working program are: • Increasing the fire safety of TV-sets • Increasing the fire safety of upholstered furniture • Increasing the use of domestic sprinklers • Community Fire Safety (including the installation of smoke detectors) • Fire safety for vulnerables (e.g. elderly and children) The EΦA Strategic Council is chaired by René Hagen, Professor of Fire Safety at The Fire Service Academy in The Netherlands. If you want to add topics of national and international concerns regarding fire safety on the working programme of the EΦA Strategic Council, please contact René Hagen on rene.hagen@nifv.nl EΦA website During the fourth Roundtable, EΦA launched its own website with the purpose of creating a virtual platform for all interested in fire safety: www.europeanfireacademy.eu |
