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European Forum for Urban Security, July 2026. In this issue: working on local responses to climate-induced disasters - workshops on disaster preparedness - key takeaways from the Cities and Drugs conference - AI and CCTV |
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Crisis management: tooling up local authorities to strengthen the response to climate-induced disasters |
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The recent heat waves across Europe have shone a light on the urgent need for local authorities to prepare for natural disasters such as wildfires. |
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This is the objective of the DARE European project (2025-2028) in which Efus is a partner. It seeks to strengthen crisis preparedness, response and resilience by improving cooperation between local authorities, emergency services, volunteers and citizens. More broadly, the project partners seek to promote a European crisis management culture. |
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As such, a wildfire response exercise took place in July in Gardanne (France) (photo) in the renowned Valabre school of responses to natural and technological risks, with civil protection responders and control and command specialists from across Europe. |
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The next real-life exercise, also on wildfire response, will be organised by Efus jointly with the city of Matosinhos (Portugal), in September. Photo top left ©iStock - Alones Creative |
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Disaster preparedness: you're invited to take part in our online workshops in September |
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As part of the Synergies European project on disaster management, we are inviting you to take part in the online workshops we're organising on 14-16 September. |
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The Synergies consortium has developed innovative tools, methods and resources to help communities, organisations and public authorities to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The three September workshops will cover the following topics: empowering actors, innovative communication, and volunteer management. Each will present the project's results, include demonstrations of relevant tools, and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share their perspective on the practical application and future uptake of the Synergies solutions. If you are interested in this area of work, please join us for one or more workshops and contribute to discussions on improving disaster preparedness in different geographical, institutional and organisational contexts. >> As places are limited, we will give priority to Efus members >> Deadline for registration: 4 September |
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Drugs: faced with the expansion of trafficking, European local authorities draw up common responses |
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How to respond to the expansion of drug trafficking in cities big and small across Europe? European local elected officials agree on a number of priorities, such as acting on the causes
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of trafficking and consumption, debunking the idea promoted by criminal groups that trafficking is cool, or occupying the digital space. These are some of the takeways of the recent conference Cities and drugs: Towards a local governance balancing security, health & social cohesion organised by Efus jointly with the city of Brussels and with support from the European Union Drugs Agenda (EUDA). This event was organised as part of the Coalition of the willing - against drug-related violence and trafficking. We are continuing our work on the issue of drugs, notably through a new EU-funded project, PRISM, which will be launched in October. >> The main takeaways of the conference are available here << |
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Factsheet Towards a responsible use of AI in video surveillance |
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in CCTV systems, enabling cameras to algorithmically analyse video streams and interpret images in real time, thus rendering surveillance predictive. What are the main risks local authorities should be aware of? What does EU law say? |
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Join the conversation live on our Safer Together group |
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We set up Safer Together on LinkedIn to foster knowledge-sharing, professional networking and informed discussions on urban security challenges. We already have more than 300 members: come and join us!
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đïž Or listen at your pace on our podcast channel |
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Twenty episodes are available on a wide range of subjects, from mental health to youth delinquency, community policing, and organised crime, to name a few. All feature interviews with experienced practitioners and local authority representatives from all over Europe. Check it out! |
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Save the dates - 14-16 September, online: stakeholder consultation workshop, Synergies project on disaster preparedness
- 16 September-14 October, Belgium: AI for Cities training programme for Belgian local authorities
- 17 September-15 October, Netherlands: AI for Cities training programme for Dutch local authorities
- 21-23 September, GdaĆsk (Poland): meeting of the EU-POLNET network of European local police forces
- 23-24 September, Matosinhos (Portugal): operational test, DARE project on crisis management
- 29-30 September, PoznaĆ (Poland): meeting of the partners of the Respect to Protect project on mental health
- October (date tbc), Paris (France): kickoff of the new PRISM European project on drugs
- 7-9 October, Rzeszów (Poland): field visit of the SafeSkills project on recruitment and retention of security professionals
- 26-30 October, PoznaĆ (Poland): capacity building event, Respect to Protect project on mental health
- 3-5 November, Barcelona (Spain): Smart City Expo World Congress >> Efus members can benefit from an exclusive discount on registration! For more information on this offer, drop us a mail kaouech@efus.eu or robin@efus.eu
- 3-4 November, Brussels (Belgium): final event of the Synergies project during the European Civil Protection Forum
- 19-20 November, Thessaloniki (Greece): General Assembly, KOBAN project on community policing
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