27th of may marked the commencement of the two-day EFSCA Conference 2025 in Brussels. The event was inaugurated by EFSCA President Arvid Graeger, who welcomed participants and set the stage for insightful discussions ahead.
The first session featured the presentation of the results from a comprehensive member survey, shedding light on current trends and challenges faced by fire service colleges across Europe. Following this, the representatives from Portugal, Finland, Austria and France shared their experiences with international and EU-funded projects.
These presentations highlighted a diverse range of ongoing and completed initiatives, offering valuable insights and fostering knowledge exchange among attendees. The collaborative atmosphere underscored the importance of cross-border cooperation in enhancing fire service education and training.
Afterwards the participants visited the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) of the European Commission in Brussels. The ERCC serves as the operational hub of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), coordinating disaster response efforts across member states.
During the visit, attendees received briefings on recent developments within the UCPM, including the UCPM Knowledge Network and the Exchange of Experts Programme. These initiatives aim to strengthen disaster preparedness and response through enhanced collaboration and knowledge sharing among civil protection professionals.
The session also covered the new training structure under the UCPM and provided insights into the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, which focuses on building a more resilient and secure Europe. Thank you EU in Emergencies for your hospitality, we‘re really looking forward to keep in contact and develop new ways of working together and strengening international cooperation in Europe! T
The day concluded with a networking dinner in the heart of Brussels, offering participants an opportunity to reflect on the day’s discussions and foster professional connections.
The second and final day of the EFSCA Conference 2025 in Brussels began with a forward-looking presentation by the President of the newly established Association of fire services of the European Union, Karl-Heinz Banse. He provided valuable insights into the structure, goals, and current priorities of this emerging European-level network, aiming to strengthen collaboration among fire services across borders.
Following this, participants engaged in a focused workshop session to reflect on the content and discussions from the past two days. The small groups explored the future direction of EFSCA’s work, identifying both opportunities and risks in a rapidly evolving professional environment. This constructive dialogue centered on how EFSCA can continue its path and follow our common goal of sharing experience and developing fire service education.
The conference concluded with the General Assembly, where the EFSCA Board presented the annual report and financial overview. After a interesting presentation we are pleased to announce that the firefighting school from Croatia, represented by Berislav Hengl and Damir Knezevic, has been officially accepted as a member of the EFSCA. We are happy to have you on board and look forward to further cooperation.
Besides that the EFSCA Medal in Gold was awarded to Linda Brouwer-Ipenburg for her year-round administrative support to the association, and in Silver to Natalie De Backer on behalf of our Belgian member team, for their dedication and effort in supporting the board in preparing this year’s conference. Thank you again for your support!
Lastly in a short preview to EFSCA Conference 2026, Jiří Fojtík from the Czech Fire Service College presented his facilities and gave us a outlook to next year. We’re already looking forward to another inspiring event! A heartfelt thank you to all participants, speakers, and organizers who made this conference a success. Let’s keep building the future of fire service education – together.
