Strengthening the Legal and Policy Framework for International Disaster Response in Poland
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Strengthening the Legal and Policy Framework for International Disaster Response in Poland An analysis of the Polish legislation and policies in light of the European Union Host Nation Support Guidelines and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies International Disaster Response Guidelines Paulina Pajkiert Vela, Polish Red Cross With collaboration of Collegium Civitas Warsaw, 2014 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................4 Acronyms and definitions ......................................................................................................6 Methodology .......................................................................................................................11 BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................................12 1. Country’s Profile Outline ..............................................................................................12 1.1. Geographic Location, List of Neighbours, Map ..................................................12 1.2. Climate, Lie of the Land .....................................................................................12 1.3. Administrative Structure ...................................................................................13 1.4. Total Population, Major Agglomerations and Population Concentrations, Population Density ...........................................................................................................13 1.5. Economy and Raw Materials .............................................................................14 2. Potential Calamity Scenarios ........................................................................................15 2.1. Possible Threats .................................................................................................15 2.2. List of calamities and disasters in Poland in the recent years ............................18 2.3. Experiences with accepting aid from abroad by Poland to date – selected examples ..........................................................................................................................18 2.3.1. Calamities......................................................................................................18 2.3.2. Anthropogenic disasters – unintentional accidents ......................................23 2.3.3. Anthropogenic disasters – intentional actions, terrorist threats ..................24 RESEARCH MATERIAL .................................................................................................................26 3. Brief analysis of applicable legal and institutional regulations ....................................26 3.1. International and regional legal grounds ...........................................................26 3.1.1. The United Nations (UN) ...............................................................................26 3.1.2. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) ..................................................27 3.1.3. European Union (EU) .....................................................................................30 3.1.4. Membership in other international and regional organisations ...................33 3.1.5. Crucial bilateral agreements and understandings .........................................34 3.1.6. Crucial international agreements on disaster response to which Poland is a party……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..38 3.2. The Polish legal system ......................................................................................40 3.2.1. The political system of the Republic of Poland and its characteristics ..........40 3.2.2 Internal legal acts regarding disasters .................................................................41 3.2.3 Authorities and their competences: contact points, coordination in crisis situations, information flow.........................................................................................44 4. Legal Regulations Concerning the Actions Carried Out in Calamity Situations .............53 4.1. Definition of a Calamity ............................................................................................53 4.2. Monitoring, Early Warning and Disaster Response Readiness .................................54 4.2.1. International Mechanisms ............................................................................54 4.2.2. National Statutory Basis ................................................................................55 4.2.3. Institutions and Procedures in the Republic of Poland .................................55 4.3. Request for Help, Commencement, Coordination and Discontinuation of its Receipt .........................................................................................................................................58 4.3.1. Statutory Basis ..............................................................................................58 4.3.2. Commencement and Coordination of International Assistance....................59 4.3.3. Completion of Operations .............................................................................62 4.4. Personnel: .................................................................................................................63 4.4.1. Entry of International Personnel: Visas and Work Permits ...........................64 2 4.4.1.1. General EU Rules: .....................................................................................64 4.4.1.2. System Solutions in the Republic of Poland: ............................................65 4.4.1.3. PSP Regulations: .......................................................................................67 4.4.2. Rights of Employees and Recognition of Professional Qualifications ............68 4.4.2.1 EU General Statutory Base: ..........................................................................68 4.4.2.2. System Solutions in the Republic of Poland: ...............................................68 4.4.2.3. PSP Regulations: ..........................................................................................70 4.4.3. Involvement and cooperation with local staff ....................................................70 4.5. Customs Procedures and Import/Export Terms and Conditions ...............................71 4.5.1. Statutory Basis ...................................................................................................71 4.5.2. Special Issues: Food, Medication, Animals .........................................................74 4.6. Disposing of Unused Humanitarian Goods ................................................................76 4.7. Taxation ....................................................................................................................76 4.8. Transportation and Movement .................................................................................79 4.8.1. EU Regulations ...................................................................................................79 4.8.2. System Solutions in the Republic of Poland .......................................................80 4.8.3. PSP Regulations ..................................................................................................83 4.9. Telecommunications .................................................................................................83 4.9.1. EU General Statutory Base: ................................................................................84 4.9.2. System Solutions in the Republic of Poland: ......................................................84 4.10. Currency Exchange and Opening Bank Accounts ....................................................85 4.11. Extended Working Hours ........................................................................................86 4.11.1. EU Regulations .................................................................................................86 4.11.2. System Solutions in the Republic of Poland: ....................................................86 4.12. Responsibilities of the Host Country and Foreign Entities Providing Assistance .....87 4.13. Security and Insurance ............................................................................................87 5. Role of the non-governmental sector (NGO) and National Red Cross Association in Assistance Management in Case of disasters .......................................................................89 6. Conclusions and recommendations .............................................................................92 Conclusions ......................................................................................................................92 Recommendations ...........................................................................................................96 3 Introduction This report has been prepared by the Polish Red Cross (PCK) under the project: “Implementation of the EU Host Nation Support Guidelines” currently being put into effect jointly with the partner Red Cross Societies and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in cooperation with the Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (DG ECHO) of the European Commission, a co- founder of the Project. The latter’s background documents are EU Host Nation Support Guidelines (HNS Guidelines) as well