Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies

Last updated
Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies
Dirección General de Protección Civil y Emergencias
Emblem of the Spanish Civil Defence.svg
Spanish Civil Defence Emblem
Logotipo de la Direccion General de Proteccion Civil y Emergencias.png
Agency overview
FormedMay 4, 1960;64 years ago (1960-05-04)
Preceding agency
  • Passive Defence Headquarters (1941–1960)
TypeDirectorate-General
Jurisdiction Government of Spain
Headquarters5 Quintiliano Street
Madrid
Annual budget € 16.8 million, 2023 [1]
Agency executive
  • Virginia Barcones, Director-General
Parent departmentUndersecretariat of the Interior
Website www.proteccioncivil.es

The Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies (DGPCE) is a component of the Spanish Department of the Interior responsible for promoting, planning and coordinating the various actors involved in the field of civil defence, both national and international.

Contents

Civil defence currently finds its legal basis, within the Spanish Constitution, in the obligation of public authorities to guarantee the right to life and physical integrity, as the first and most important of all fundamental rights (article 15), in the principles of national unity and territorial solidarity (article 2), and in the essential requirements of efficiency and administrative coordination (article 103). By Law, in accordance with article 30.4 of the Constitution, citizens may be imposed duties to deal with cases of serious risk.

The directorate-general is integrated in the Undersecretariat of the Ministry of the Interior and it is structured through three sub-directorates. It is headed by a Director-General appointed by the Monarch at the request of the Minister for Home Affairs. Since December 2023, the director-general is Virginia Barcones Sanz. [2]

History

The first measures around civil protection in Spain were taken in 1941 when the Passive Defence and Territory Headquarters was created to protect the population and the resources and wealth of the country. This Headquarters depended directly on the Office of the Prime Minister and it was headed by a general officer of the Army. [3]

However, the true origin of this body is found almost two decades later, in May 1960. This year the Headquarters was reformed and the Directorate-General for Civil Protection was created with the main objective of creating an organ with the same denomination that was used in the international scope - that of civil defense. Its functions, prime-ministerial dependence and military character remained intact. With this reform, offices began to be created in each province, chaired by civil governors. On these depended in turn the local offices chaired by the town and city mayors. [4]

Civil Protection Boat Embarcacion de Proteccion civil. Vilagarcia de Arousa. Galiza-V18.jpg
Civil Protection Boat

In 1967, the directorate-general was relegated to the rank of sub-directorate-general and integrated into the Directorate-General of the Civil Guard, which since 1943 had some units for these purpose. In this way, civil protection functions were assigned to the Ministry of the Interior. [5] A 1968 Decree structured and granted powers to the sub-directorate, based on those already existing of the directorate-general. In addition, it developed and regulated its several units, maintained the service to its full extent, guaranteed the dissemination of the media, reinforced cooperation with the Civil Guard and respected the local and provincial character traditionally recognized for the fight against emergencies. [6] Since 1976, the sub-directorate general became dependent on the Directorate-General for Internal Policy. [7]

Already in 1980, during the term of Minister Juan José Rosón, the civil protection system was strengthened with the creation of a collective body to coordinate the action of the rest of departments, administrations and organizations, both public and private. This body was the National Civil Protection Committee. Likewise, the Directorate-General for Civil Protection was recovered and structured through a General Secretariat and the information, operational coordination and mobilization services. Civil governors assumed the coordination and provincial direction of civil protection. [8] On September 14, 1981, the civil protection badge was created. [9]

In July 1982, a new structure was approved based on two sub-directorates-general: one of Studies and Organization for conducting studies, for training and improvement of professional and volunteer staff, as well as assuming the secretariat of the National Committee and preparing the legislation; and a sub-directorate-general of Operations for operational intervention and drills. [10] In January 1985, the first Civil Protection Act was passed. [11] In 1999 a representative of the Nuclear Safety Council was integrated in the National Civil Protection Committee.

Civil Defence Vehicle in Ubeda, Andalusia. Coche Proteccion Civil Ubeda.jpg
Civil Defence Vehicle in Úbeda, Andalusia.

It was in 2004 when the term “Emergencies” was added to the name of the directorate-general. [12]

List of directors-general

No.NameTerm of office
StartEnd
1Pardo de Santayana y SuárezMay 9, 1960May 18, 1967
2Ramón de Meer PardoMay 18, 1967December 6, 1967
3Federico Gallo LacarcelJuly 28, 1980September 4, 1982
4Ezequiel Jaquete MolineroSeptember 4, 1982December 8, 1982
5Antonio Figueruelo AlmazánDecember 8, 1982November 30, 1987
6Antonio Martínez OvejeroNovember 30, 1987September 3, 1988
7 Pilar Brabo September 3, 1988July 31, 1993
8Francisco Cruz de CastroJuly 31, 1993June 1, 1996
9Juan San Nicolás SantamaríaJune 1, 1996May 8, 2004
10Celia Abenza RojoMay 8, 2004September 12, 2006
11Francisco Javier Velázquez LópezSeptember 12, 2006April 22, 2008
12Pilar Gallego BerruezoMay 1, 2008July 16, 2011
13María Victoria Eugenia Sánchez SánchezJuly 16, 2011February 4, 2012
14Juan Antonio Díaz CruzFebruary 4, 2012June 30, 2018
15Alberto Herrera Rodríguez [13] June 30, 2018January 22, 2020
16Leonardo Marcos González [14] January 29, 2020June 13, 2023
17Francisco José Ruiz Boada [15] June 13, 2023December 13, 2023
18Virginia Barcones Sanz [2] December 13, 2023Incumbent

National Civil Protection System

A Canadair CL-215 of the Spanish Air Force, dedicated to fight against wildfires. CL215 43 Grupo.jpg
A Canadair CL-215 of the Spanish Air Force, dedicated to fight against wildfires.

The Spanish National Civil Protection System is structured through three levels: national, regional and local. It is currently regulated by the National Civil Protection System Act of 2015. [16]

In the nation-wide level, the Ministry of the Interior exercises the higher direction, coordination and inspection of the actions and resources used to accomplish with the civil protection plans. The Department do so through the Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies. Also, in the national level, it does exists the National Council on Civil Protection (formerly known as "National Civil Protection Committee"), integrated by representatives of all administrations to coordinate the civil protection, and the Civil Protection National School, where the personnel is formed and trained. The School also offers official grades and it develops R&D projects. [16]

In the regional level, the autonomous communities are authorized to regulate its own civil defence systems, but always with a coordination body with representatives of all administrations and the higher coordination of the State. The State, and all the regions have their own Civil Protection Plan.

Military Emergencies Unit

The Military Emergencies Unit, created in 2005 has become a fundamental element of the System, intervening in all the most important national and international catastrophes since its creation. The National Civil Protection System Act, in its article 17, establishes the obligation of the Armed Forces to collaborate in case of disaster, and it does so through the mentioned unit. To request the assistance of the UME, the request has to be made by the minister of Home Affairs to the minister of Defence. [16]

The Act also establishes that, in a case of a national interest emergency, the UME would assume the higher direction of the emergency under the orders of the minister of Home Affairs. [16]

Duties and obligations of citizens

Spanish Medal of Civil Defence Merit. Badge of the Medal of Civil Defence Merit (Spain).svg
Spanish Medal of Civil Defence Merit.

All citizens, since the coming of age, are subject to the obligation to collaborate, personally and materially, in civil protection, in case of requirement by the competent authorities. This obligation consist in complying with the prevention and protection measures established by law to protect persons and goods when required.

In cases of serious risk, catastrophe or public calamity, all residents in the national territory are obliged to perform personal provisions required by the competent authority, without the right to compensation for this cause, and to comply with general or individuals orders that the authority dictates.

In 1982, the central government created the Medal of Merit of Civil Protection to "distinguish natural or legal persons that stand out for their activities in the protection, at preventive and operational level, of persons and property that may be affected by emergency situations in cases of serious risk, catastrophe or public calamity, by carrying out singular acts that involve notorious risk or exceptional solidarity, singular collaboration with the competent authorities in the direction and coordination of intervention resources in such circumstances or altruistic cooperation with them in actions of technical, pedagogical, research, economic or social purpose, as well as in continuous and relevant actions of interest for Civil Protection". [17]

Ranks

Protecivil1.png Protecivil2.png Protecivil3.png Protecivil4.png Protecivil5.png Protecivil6.png Protecivil7.png Protecivil8.png Protecivil9.png Protecivil10.png
Coordinador Jefe
(Chief Coordinator)		Jefe de Agrupación
(Grouping Chief)		Subjefe de Agrupación
(Grouping Deputy Chief)		Secretario de Agrupación
(Grouping Secretary)		Jefe de Unidad
(Unit Chief)		Jefe de Sección
(Section Chief)		Jefe de Grupo
(Group Chief)		Jefe de Equipo
(Team Chief)		Voluntario
(Volunteer)

Organization chart

To carry out its duties, the directorate-general has the following sub-directorates or deputy directorates-general: [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Development (Spain)</span> Government ministry in Spain

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MITMA), traditionally known as the Ministry of Development (MIFOM), is the department of the Government of Spain responsible for preparing and implementing the government policy on land, air and maritime transport infrastructure and the control, planning and regulation of the transport services on this areas. It is also responsible for guaranteeing access to housing; urban, soil and architecture policies; planning and controlling the postal and telegraph services, directing the services related to astronomy, geodesy, geophysics and mapping, and planning and programing the government investments on infrastructure and services related to this scope. The Ministry's headquarters are in the New Ministries government complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of the Interior (Spain)</span> Spanish government ministry

The Ministry of the Interior (MIR) is a department of the Government of Spain responsible for public security, the protection of the constitutional rights, the command of the law enforcement agencies, national security, immigration affairs, prisons, civil defense and road traffic safety. Through the Undersecretariat of the Interior and its superior body, the Directorate-General for Internal Policy, the Ministry is responsible for all actions related to ensuring political pluralism and the proper functioning of electoral processes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Emergencies Unit</span> Branch of the Spanish Armed Forces

The Emergency Military Unit is a branch of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for providing disaster relief throughout Spain mainly, and abroad if required. It is the newest branch of the Spanish Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Defence (Spain)</span> Government institution in Spain

The Ministry of Defence (MINISDEF) is the department of the Government of Spain responsible for planning, developing and carrying out the general guidelines of the Government about the defence policy and the managing of the military administration. It is the administrative and executive body of the Spanish Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of the Presidency</span>

The Ministry of the Presidency (MPR) was the department of the Government of Spain that, from 1974 to 2023, assured the link between the different Ministries and the Prime Minister and it was responsible for the relations between the Government and the Parliament. This department also supported The Crown in the exercise of its functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief of the Defence Staff (Spain)</span> Head of the Spanish Armed Forces

The Chief of the Defence Staff is the highest-ranking military officer in the Spanish Armed Forces and is the principal military advisor to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, the National Defence Council and the National Security Council. It is the fourth military authority of the country after the Monarch, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence because the Secretary of State for Defence and the Under-Secretary of Defence do not have military authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intelligence Center for Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime</span> Spanish domestic intelligence agency

The Intelligence Center for Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime is the Spanish domestic intelligence agency responsible for the prevention of terrorism, organized crime and other violent radical organizations by managing and analyzing all internal information of the country. It was formed in October 2014 by merging of the National Anti-Terrorism Coordination Center and Intelligence Center against Organized Crime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State for Security (Spain)</span>

The Secretary of State for Security (SES) of Spain is the second-highest-ranking official in the Ministry of the Interior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Commissariat of Information</span>

The General Commissariat of Information is an intelligence service within the National Police Corps of Spain responsible for the collection, analysis and distribution of information relevant to domestic security, as well as its exploitation or operational use, especially in matters of counterterrorism, both nationally and internationally. It may be regarded as the Spanish equivalent of the United Kingdom's Special Branch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State for Defence (Spain)</span> Second-highest-ranking official in the Ministry of Defence of Spain

The Secretary of State for Defence (SEDEF) is the second-highest-ranking official in the Ministry of Defence of Spain. The SEDEF is a civilian which is appointed by the King with the advice of the Defence Minister. In spite of being the second authority of the Ministry, it is behind the Chief of the Defence Staff as far as military control is concerned.

The Directorate-General of the Police (DGP) is a component of the Spanish Department of the Interior responsible for exercising the direct command of the National Police Corps, the main civil law enforcement agency of Spain. The DGP, integrated in the Secretariat of State for Security, is in charge of organize, direct, coordinate and execute the missions entrusted to the National Police by the provisions in force, in accordance with the guidelines and orders issued by the Minister of the Interior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Transport and Housing</span> Official of the Ministry of Development of the Government of Spain

The Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Transport and Housing (SEITV) is a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Development of the Government of Spain. The SEITV is appointed by the King of Spain at the proposal of the Minister of Development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State for Social Security (Spain)</span> Official of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of the Government of Spain

The Secretary of State for Social Security and Pensions (SESSP) is a senior minister of the Government of Spain, under the authority of the Social Security Minister, responsible for the direction and guardianship of the managing agencies and common services of the Social Security; the impulse, direction and economic and financial analysis of the Social Security System; as well as the planning and supervision of the management of the collaborating entities of the Social Security complementary to the Social Security action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Social Affairs (Spain)</span> Spanish ministry responsible for social affairs (1988–1996)

The Ministry of Social Affairs (MAS), since 2023 known as Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda, is a department of the Government of Spain responsible for the government policies on social services, family, minors protection, disability and prevention of youth crime, adoptions and foster care and the promotion of cultural communication and youth association. Likewise, the department is responsible for the government policies on animal welfare and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labour and Social Security Inspectorate</span>

The Labour and Social Security Inspectorate (ITSS) is a Spanish autonomous agency in charge of the control of the compliance with labour and social security legislation. It also offers technical advice and, where appropriate, conciliation, mediation and arbitration in these matters. The ITSS is, therefore, the apex of the Labour and Social Security Inspection System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government Delegation (Spain)</span>

In Spain, apart from the Central Administration, the central government has a Peripheral Administration. This administration is composed of all those decentralized government services, and they are coordinated by the Government Delegations, which are headquartered in the Spanish regions' capitals. Likewise, this delegations exercise its powers through sub-delegations, headquartered in the provinces and insular directorates, headquartered in some islands. In total, there are 19 government delegations, 44 sub-delegations and 7 insular directorates.

The Directorate-General of the Civil Guard (DGGC) is a component of the Spanish Department of the Interior responsible for exercising the direct command of the Civil Guard law enforcement agency. The DGGC, integrated in the Secretariat of State for Security, is in charge of organize, direct, coordinate and execute the missions entrusted to the Civil Guard by the provisions in force, in accordance with the guidelines and orders issued by the Ministers of the Interior and of Defense, within the scope of their respective powers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration</span>

The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration is a department of the government of Spain responsible for planning and carrying out the government policy on Social Security, foreigners, immigration and emigration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coordination Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies</span> Body of the Spanish Ministry of Health

The Coordination Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies is a body of the Spanish Ministry of Health responsible for coordinating the management of information and supporting all health authorities in cases of national or international health alert or emergency situations that pose a threat to the health of the population. This centre is also the unit responsible in Spain for preparing and developing response plans to deal with public health threats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Office of the Prime Minister (Spain)</span> Government organization in Spain

The Office of the Prime Minister, officially Presidency of the Government is the Spanish government structure that groups all the departments and officials that are at the service of the prime minister to fulfil its constitutional duties. It is staffed by a mix of career civil servants and advisers. The highest-ranking official within the Office is the Chief of Staff, which is a political appointment on which the rest of the Office officials depend.

References

  1. ↑ "2023 State Budget" (PDF).
  2. 1 2 Villarroel, Isabel G. (2023-12-13). "El Gobierno nombra a Virginia Barcones nueva directora general de Protección Civil y Emergencias". cadena SER (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  3. ↑ "Decree of January 23, 1941 establishing the National Headquarters for Passive Defence and Territory" (PDF). www.boe.es. 23 January 1941. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-04-24. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  4. ↑ "Decree 827/1960, of May 4, which creates the Directorate-General for Civil Protection" (PDF). www.boe.es. 9 May 1960. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-04-24. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  5. ↑ De Andrés Díaz, Rosana; Rojas Juárez, José Rafael (2015). "Ministry of the Interior - Two centuries of history". www.interior.gob.es. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  6. ↑ "Decree 398/1968, of February 29, on the structure and competence of the Sub-directorate General for Civil Protection". boe.es. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  7. ↑ "Royal Decree 2614/1976, of October 30, which introduces changes in the organizational structure of the Ministry of the Interior". www.boe.es. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  8. ↑ "Royal Decree 1547/1980, of July 24, on restructuring of Civil Protection". www.boe.es. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  9. ↑ "Order of September 14, 1981 on the creation of the Civil Protection badge". www.boe.es. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  10. ↑ "Royal Decree 1907/1982, of July 23, which modifies Royal Decree 1547/1980, of July 24, on restructuring Civil Protection". www.boe.es. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  11. ↑ "Law 2/1985, of January 21, on Civil Protection". www.boe.es. Archived from the original on 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  12. ↑ "Royal Decree 562/2004, dated April 19, approving the basic organic structure of the ministerial departments". www.boe.es. Archived from the original on 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  13. ↑ EFE. "Gobierno nombra nuevos directores de Policía Nacional,Guardia Civil y Tráfico". eldiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  14. ↑ "Leonardo Marcos González, nuevo director general de Protección Civil y Emergencias". Europa Press. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  15. ↑ InfoDefensa, Revista Defensa. "Francisco Ruiz Boada, nuevo director general de Protección Civil y Emergencias". Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Law 17/2015, of July 9, on the National Civil Protection System". www.boe.es. Archived from the original on 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  17. ↑ "Order of April 13, 1982, creating the Civil Protection Medal of Merit". boe.es. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  18. ↑ "Royal Decree 952/2018, of July 27, which develops the basic organic structure of the Ministry of Interior". www.boe.es. Archived from the original on 2018-08-23. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.