Mr Adam Banaszak represented the local and regional government within the EU Member States at the European Civil Protection Forum, the largest European conference on civil protection organised by the European Commission.

Speaking on behalf of the Committee of the Regions in the light of his rapporteurship on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, Mr Banaszak said: "Approximately 95% of first responses to disasters are led by local people. That is why a localist approach is key for increasing resilience. For our societies to be more resilient, we need to better involve local and regional authorities in planning of risk preparedness. As we are the level closest to the people and we know our areas best, we know what works on the ground".

Adam Banaszak spoke at the 2018 Civil Protection Forum organised on March 5, which brought together more than 400 representatives from the civil protection and disaster risk management communities, including governments, European Union institutions, United Nations agencies, academia, and other stakeholders to share experiences and discuss ways of strengthening the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

In his speech the ECR Member called on EU and national decision-makers to better involve local and regional authorities in planning of risk preparedness and to encourage the voluntary and community sector to plan for self-help. As the Vice-President of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Regional Assembly in Poland, Mr Banaszak mentioned the 2017 storms in his region which caused the death of six people and damage to thousands of homes. He said that the involvement of volunteers and the community sector, who in many cases supported self-help, had been crucial in this particular case.

The recommendations drafted by Mr Banaszak in the CoR will be voted by local and regional authorities during the May plenary session.