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Disclaimer: The unofficial consolidated version of the regulation is intended for information purposes only, and is not subject to damage liability or any other liability on the part of the authority.

The unofficial consolidated version of the Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces includes: - the Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief

Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 92/07, of 10 October 2007), - the Decree amending the Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of

Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 54/09, of 13 July 2009),

- the Decree amending the Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 23/11, of 31 March 2011),

- the Decree amending the Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 27/16, of 11 April 2016).

D E C R E E on the organization, equipment and training of protection, rescue and relief forces

(Unofficial consolidated version No. 3)

I. GENERAL PROVISION

Article 1

This Decree regulates the criteria for the organization, equipment and training of Civil Protection members, firefighting units and other protection, rescue and relief forces in the event of natural or other disasters.

II. ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT

1. Civil Protection

Article 2

(1) In general, the following Civil Protection units, services and authorities are established in order to perform protection, rescue and relief tasks: - First aid units; - First aid veterinary units; - Technical rescue units; - Radiological, chemical and biological protection units; - Units for protection against unexploded ordnance; - Shelter use units; - Avalanche triggering service; - Support services;

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- Civil Protection commanders, their deputies and Civil Protection headquarters; - Civil Protection commissioners and their deputies; - Information centres; - Logistics centres; - Other units and services.

(2) In general, the Civil Protection units and services from the previous paragraph are organized when protection, rescue and relief tasks performed by such units and services cannot be performed by professional rescue services, by units, services and structures organized by societies and other non-governmental organizations, or by commercial companies, institutes and other organizations.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, additional Civil Protection units and services may be established in the event of a natural or other disaster, depending on the threat, the disaster’s consequences, and other needs, provided such units and services can be trained and equipped in time to perform protection, rescue and relief tasks.

(4) Notwithstanding the criteria defined in this Decree, Civil Protection units, services and authorities may also be organized by national authorities, commercial companies, institutions and other organizations.

Article 3

(1) First aid units are organized by: - Commercial companies, institutes and other organizations whose work process includes

the use, production, transport or storage of dangerous substances, oil and its derivatives, or fuel gas, and which carry out activities or manage work assets that pose an accident hazard obliging them to prepare emergency response plans; such organizations organize one team per 50 to 300 employees at a single location and an additional team for each subsequent group of 300 employees;

- Schools and other public institutes operating in the fields of education, child care, protection of disabled people, social care and elderly care, which organize one team if they have more than 300 children, pupils, students or dependent people in their care at a single location;

- Municipalities with 5,000 to 10,000 residents, which organize a minimum of one team, and an additional team for each subsequent group of 10,000 residents.

(2) In general, municipalities organize first aid teams in agreement with the competent Red Cross organization, and within this organization, or in agreement with other non-government organizations.

(3) In agreement with the Slovenian Red Cross, other non-governmental organizations and municipalities, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief organizes no more than 200 first aid teams able to operate in the entire national territory.

(4) A first aid team from paragraph 1 of this Article consists of no less than three and no more than six members. Three first aid teams constitute a squad and two squads constitute a platoon. A platoon includes one team tasked with the transportation of sick and injured people.

(5) First aid includes: - The provision of first aid to sick and injured people; - Assistance with triage;

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- Assistance with the decontamination of sick and injured people; - Participation in the transportation of slightly sick or injured people; - Participation in the care of sick or injured people; - Participation in the implementation of hygienic and epidemiological measures.

Article 4

(1) Commercial companies, institutes and other organizations engaged in intensive animal farming with a minimum of 200 head of livestock in each batch, or running another comparable form of livestock production, organize a minimum of one first aid veterinary team, or a greater number of teams required due to the extent and type of animal farming, in accordance with emergency response plans in the event of a mass animal disease outbreak.

(2) Veterinary aid includes: - The implementation of measures to protect animals, food of animal origin, animal feed and

watering places against the risks or consequences of natural and other disasters; - The implementation of measures for the protection of animals in the event of the risk or

occurrence of a mass animal disease outbreak; - Participation in livestock decontamination; - Participation in the disposal of animal carcasses.

Article 5

(1) Technical rescue units are organized by: - Municipalities in earthquake-prone areas with an estimated peak ground acceleration of

0.2 to 0.5 (g) (EMS level VIII or higher) according to a risk assessment, and with a population of up to 20,000 residents; they organize a minimum of one debris search team and one rescue team, as well as an additional debris search team and one rescue team for every subsequent group of 20,000 residents;

- Municipalities in earthquake-prone areas with an estimated peak ground acceleration of 0.2 to 0.5 (g) (EMS level VIII or higher) according to a risk assessment, and with a population of 100,000 residents or more; they organize a minimum of one debris search platoon and two rescue companies;

- Municipalities in flood-prone areas according to a risk assessment; they organize technical rescue units for the construction and fortification of flood embankments in the event of floods or an imminent threat due to floods, and for other construction tasks to protect against high waters; they also organize water rescue teams.

(2) Administrative regions organize or provide the required technical rescue capabilities in accordance with their emergency response plans.

(3) In general, municipalities provide the required technical rescue capabilities, with the exception of debris search teams, by means of contracts with relevant commercial construction companies having the required technical and other capabilities. In general, municipalities organize water rescue teams in agreement with a firefighting organization or with other non-governmental organizations.

(4) In each region, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief organizes a minimum of one debris search squad and one rescue squad, as well as water rescue teams in flood-prone areas. The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief may provide technical rescue capabilities by means of contracts with relevant commercial companies.

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(5) Three debris search teams or three rescue teams from paragraph 1 of this Article constitute a squad. Two squads constitute a platoon and three platoons constitute a company.

(6) Technical rescue includes: - The search for people buried under debris using geophones and other technical

equipment, or search and rescue dogs; - The rescue of people and property from at-risk and damaged buildings and from under

debris or landslides; - The reinforcement and construction of flood embankments in the event of floods or the

imminent threat of floods, as well as other construction tasks to protect against floods; - The removal of obstacles from roads, preparing emergency routes and corridors, and

assistance with the repair of community infrastructure and the urgent removal of other consequences of storms, floods, landslides, avalanches and other disasters;

- Participation in cleanup operations in the event of disasters involving dangerous substances in the natural environment;

- Assistance with the construction of sanitation and hygiene facilities; - Arrangement of locations for temporary accommodation of people at risk; - Rescue from water and on the water surface; - Participation in the construction of shelters in the event of war or the imminent threat

thereof.

Article 6

Radiological, chemical and biological protection units are organized by: - Commercial companies, institutes and other organizations with more than 50 employees

at a single location whose work processes include the use, production, transport or storage of dangerous substances, obliging them to prepare emergency response plans (under the SEVESO II Directive); they either organize a minimum of one radiological or chemical reconnaissance team, depending on their activities, and a minimum of one decontamination team, or finance the establishment, equipping and training of such a unit in the municipality of their operation, in accordance with the municipal emergency response plan in the event of a disaster that may be caused by the activities of such commercial companies, institutes or other organizations;

- By municipalities where the head office of a commercial company, institute or other organization from the previous indent is located; they organize one radiological and chemical decontamination squad if the required capabilities cannot be provided by firefighting units which are part of the public firefighting service.

(2) The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief organizes at least one radiological, chemical and biological decontamination squad operating in Slovenia and abroad, and one radiological and chemical reconnaissance squad in each region.

(3) The reconnaissance squad from paragraphs 1 and 2 consists of three reconnaissance teams, and a decontamination squad consists of two decontamination teams.

(4) For the purposes of the detection and identification of radiological, chemical, biological or other sources of threat arising from disasters involving dangerous substances, terrorist activities or other disasters, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief concludes contracts with the National Institute of Biology, the Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, the Centre for Toxicology and, if required, other institutes, in order to utilize and include the specific capabilities of these institutes and centres in protection, rescue and relief tasks. The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief ensures that

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the performance of their tasks in the area of radiological, chemical and biological protection is harmonized with the tasks performed by other units and services defined in this Decree, or by other authorities and services, and the Slovenian Armed Forces.

(5) Radiological, chemical and biological protection includes: - The reconnaissance of hazardous substances and casualty agents in the environment

(detection, identification, dosimetry and simple analyses); - The identification and marking of boundaries of contaminated areas; - The determination of the cessation of radiological and chemical hazards; - The collection of analysis and research samples; - The direction, coordination and implementation of protective measures; - Carrying out decontamination of people and equipment.

Article 7

(1) The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief organizes a unified service for protection against unexploded ordnance, which operates without interruption, and whose constituent unit for protection against unexploded ordnance covers the entire national territory.

(2) The service for the protection against unexploded ordnance is tasked with discovering, removing and destroying unexploded ordnance located in the environment as remnants of past military conflicts and other military activities.

Article 8

(1) Shelter use units are organized as a service by commercial companies, institutes, owners or managers of residential buildings and by municipalities as follows: - Each shelter with 25-200 shelter units must have a designated shelter manager; - Each shelter with 201-400 shelter units must have a designated shelter manager and a

deputy; - Each shelter with 401-600 shelter units must have a designated shelter manager and two

deputies; - For each additional 200 shelter units, an additional shelter manager must be designated.

(2) The shelter use service is tasked with: - Marking access ways to shelters; - Preparing shelters for use; - Organizing shelter accommodation; - Maintaining the functionality of devices and equipment in shelters.

(3) The shelter use service is organized in the event of an increased risk of an attack against the state.

Article 9

(1) The avalanche triggering service is organized by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief as a unified state-wide service.

(2) The avalanche triggering service is tasked with preventive avalanche triggering, blasting of dangerous snow cornices, and blasting of ice on watercourses.

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Article 10

(1) Support services are mainly organized by: - The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief; - Administrative regions; - Municipalities.

(2) Support services include units or teams tasked with supply provision, signals, psychological assistance, transport, information and communication support, administrative support and other requirements of the Civil Protection headquarters. The size of individual services or the number of units or teams is determined by their founder according to the threat level, the type of possible disasters, the number and type of protection, rescue and relief forces, and according to capabilities.

(3) In accordance with emergency response plans, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief may organize special services providing support and performing specific tasks related to protection, rescue and relief in the event of ecological and other disasters at sea, and a special service tasked with the evacuation of citizens of the Republic of Slovenia from other countries if they are threatened by a natural or other disaster. In accordance with national emergency response plans, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief may also organize special services providing support and performing specific tasks related to protection, rescue and relief in the event of certain natural and other disasters.

(4) The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief may provide information and communication support to the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Slovenia or support to protection, rescue and relief management authorities in the event of major disasters, such as earthquakes, wildfires and so on, by means of contracts with the Association of Radio Amateurs of Slovenia, radio amateur societies, or municipalities in at-risk areas.

(5) The main responsibilities of support services consist of: - Providing accommodation and supplies such as food, water and other basic necessities,

work assets and materials to Civil Protection members and members of other protection, rescue and relief forces;

- Maintaining work assets or emergency response resources; - Providing information and communication support to management authorities or to

protection, rescue and relief management and coordination efforts in the event of a disaster;

- Providing the transportation of teams, equipment, materiel and humanitarian aid; - Providing information and administration support to management authorities; - Providing psychological assistance; - Participating in the evacuation, temporary accommodation and care of people at risk; - Receiving and distributing international, humanitarian and other aid; - Other support tasks as required.

Article 11

(1) Civil Protection commanders, their deputies and Civil Protection headquarters are designated by: - Commercial companies, institutes and other organizations with more than 100 employees

whose work process includes the use, production, transport or storage of dangerous substances, oil and its derivatives, and fuel gas, and which carry out activities or manage work assets that pose a risk to their surroundings; and, based on a decision by a competent

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national or municipal authority, by commercial companies, institutes and other organizations whose activities pose a high or very high fire hazard;

- Municipalities; - Administrative regions; - The Government of the Republic of Slovenia.

(2) Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, Civil Protection commanders, their deputies and Civil Protection headquarters are designated by regionally important institutes providing medical care, and by commercial companies managing national or regional level infrastructure systems, in particular energy, railway, information and communication, water and other supply systems.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, Civil Protection commanders, their deputies and Civil Protection headquarters may also be designated by municipalities in urban districts and larger settlements that form individual entities in accordance with emergency response plans.

Article 12

(1) Civil Protection commissioners and their deputies are appointed by: - Schools and other public institutions operating in the fields of education, child care,

protection of disabled people, social care and elderly care with more than 100 children, pupils, students or dependent people;

- Municipalities in large villages located in areas that are especially at risk; - Shopping centres with more than 2,000 customers per day.

(2) In the event of a natural or other disaster, Civil Protection commissioners and their deputies may also be appointed in commercial companies, institutes and other organizations, larger residential buildings, streets or parts of settlements, villages and hamlets.

(3) The responsibilities of Civil Protection commissioners and their deputies consist of: - Monitoring the situation and warning of imminent risks; - Directing the implementation of personal and mutual protection in the event of natural and

other disasters; - Coordinating protective measures, and organizing protection, rescue and relief efforts in

accordance with decisions made by the incident commander; - Assisting with the evacuation of at-risk buildings or areas; - Notifying and maintaining other forms of contact with protection, rescue and relief

management authorities in the event of natural and other disasters; - Performing other tasks according to their capabilities.

Article 13

(1) The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief organizes two information centres able to operate in the event of disasters in different parts of the country. If necessary, information centres may also be organized by administrative regions and municipalities.

(2) The responsibilities of information centres consist of: - Providing information on the consequences of a disaster and other conditions, and giving

guidance to the population in the affected area;

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- Collecting, processing and providing data on the dead and injured to competent Civil Protection headquarters, other competent bodies, organizations and services, as well as, if so decided, to the relatives of the victims;

- Providing psychological and spiritual support to those affected and to the relatives of the victims;

- Cooperating with the health service, the police, the social service, the investigation service, priests and others, and, in the event of traffic accidents, with providers of air, rail and other forms of transport, the Ministry of Transport, and if necessary, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

- Providing translation services if the affected population includes foreign citizens or for the purposes of international aid;

- Providing assistance with the care and accommodation of those who are uninjured and their relatives;

- Providing assistance to survivors with contacting their relatives.

Article 14

(1) Logistics centres are organized, according to need, by: - The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief at

the regional and national levels; - Administrative regions; - Municipalities.

(2) The responsibilities of logistics centres consist of: - Storing and distributing protection, rescue and relief equipment and resources to the

competent Civil Protection headquarters, units and services; - Storing and distributing equipment and resources from supplies of material resources in

the event of natural and other disasters; - Receiving and supplying protection, rescue and relief forces deployed to an affected area; - Gathering, storing and distributing humanitarian and international aid, generally in

cooperation with humanitarian organizations.

Article 15

In order to record and assess the damage to structures in earthquakes and other disasters involving a large number of damaged structures, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief establishes, in accordance with national emergency response plans, up to 100 commissions, whose members may have the status of Civil Protection members.

Article 16

Civil Protection management authorities are organized, equipped and trained so they can be activated in no more than four hours; the activation time for units and services must not exceed eight hours.

Article 17

(1) In accordance with the criteria defined in this Decree, the Minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters prescribes the personnel structure of Civil Protection units and services (formations), and the type and amount of emergency response

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equipment and tools used by individual units or services or by Civil Protection management authorities.

(2) In general, the emergency response equipment and tools used by Civil Protection units and services and procured with funds from the budget of the Republic of Slovenia and from regional and municipal budgets must be typified and must adhere to prescribed standards.

Article 18

(1) The locations of Civil Protection headquarters and other management authorities, support services, logistics and information centres and other services dealing with natural and other disasters must be clearly marked with a raised Civil Protection flag, in addition to other markings.

(2) In the event of natural or other disasters, the incident leadership headquarters must be clearly marked with a raised Civil Protection flag or a red flag, in addition to other markings, and with a red light during the hours of darkness. This provision does not prevent individual services or organizations from raising flags or other markings of their activities or headquarters, such as the Red Cross emblem and so on.

(3) The Minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters prescribes the use of the emblem of the Civil Protection of the Republic of Slovenia and the marking of vehicles, aircraft and vessels used by Civil Protection units, services and authorities. Vehicles, aircraft and vessels marked with the emblem of the Civil Protection of the Republic of Slovenia and other prescribed markings may also be used by other units and structures involved in protection against natural and other disasters, in accordance with the Protection Against Natural and Other Disasters Act.

2. Firefighting units and units and services of societies and other non-governmental organizations

Firefighting units

Article 19

(1) Firefighting units are organized based on the criteria for organizing and equipping firefighting units defined in the Annex which is a part of this Decree.

(2) Firefighting units perform operational firefighting tasks and other general rescue tasks based on a decision by the competent municipal, regional or national authority, in accordance with plans and regulations.

Article 20

(1) Emergency response tasks in the event of traffic accidents, industrial accidents and other accidents involving dangerous substances, technical rescue tasks in the event of traffic accidents and accidents on flowing and standing waters, and other emergency response tasks of general importance, are carried out by:

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- The Celje Professional Firefighting Unit; - The Koper Firefighting Brigade Public Institute; - The Kranj Firefighting and Rescue Service Public Institute; - The Ljubljana Firefighting Brigade; - The Nova Gorica Firefighting Unit, a public institute for firefighting and rescue tasks; - The Ajdovščina Firefighting and Rescue Centre; - The Novo Mesto Firefighting and Rescue Centre; - The Ravne na Koroškem Firefighting Institute; - The Trbovlje Firefighting Institute; - The Krško Professional Firefighting Unit; - The Jesenice Firefighting and Rescue Service; - The Maribor Public Institute of Protective and Fire Rescue; - The Sežana Institute of Firefighting and Rescue Service; - Helios d.o.o, producer of coatings and synthetic resins, the Domžale Fire Security Centre; - The Nafta Professional Industrial Firefighting Unit – Protection and Fire Security; - The Bled Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Gornja Radgona Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Murska Sobota Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Postojna Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Ptuj Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Slovenska Bistrica Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Velenje Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Bovec Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Cerknica Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Črnomelj Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Idrija Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Ilirska Bistrica Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Kamnik Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Kočevje Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Litija Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Ljutomer Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Nazarje Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Radlje ob Dravi Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Ribnica Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Steklarna Rogaška Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Sevnica Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Škofja Loka Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Tolmin Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Trebnje Voluntary Firefighting Society; - The Zreče Voluntary Firefighting Society.

(2) Road traffic technical rescue tasks are also performed by the Ormož Voluntary Firefighting Society. For the purposes of carrying out tasks related to road traffic technical rescue in areas where analyses show longer response times due to poorer coverage by the firefighting units in the previous paragraph, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief designates additional firefighting units, provided they are already appropriately equipped and trained to perform tasks related to road traffic technical rescue. In the area where the tasks from the previous paragraph are performed by the Cerknica Voluntary Firefighting Society, emergency response tasks in the event of disasters involving dangerous substances are carried out by the Kovinoplastika Lož Industrial Firefighting Society. Technical rescue tasks in the event of road traffic accidents and traffic, industrial and other accidents involving dangerous substances are also carried out by the Kobarid Voluntary Firefighting Society, the Slovenj Gradec Voluntary Firefighting Society and the Slovenske Konjice Voluntary Firefighting Society.

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(3) Emergency response tasks in long motorway and road tunnels are carried out by tunnel firefighters and tunnel portal firefighters. Tunnel firefighters are firefighters organized in firefighting units designated in regional emergency response plans to perform rescue tasks in the event of an accident in a specific long motorway or road tunnel. Tunnel portal firefighters are firefighters who cooperate with tunnel firefighters in emergency response tasks in the event of accidents in long motorway and road tunnels. In the event of a tunnel accident, and in accordance with the criteria for organizing and equipping tunnel portal firefighters and regional emergency response plans, tunnel portal firefighter teams are organized by the competent firefighting associations for each specific tunnel. Emergency response plans may stipulate that the duties of tunnel portal firefighters with regard to emergency response tasks in long motorway and road tunnels are performed by operational firefighters from other specified firefighting organizations.

(4) Emergency response tasks of tunnel firefighter units in long motorway and road tunnels are carried out as follows: - In the Karavanke tunnel, by the Jesenice Firefighting and Rescue Service; - In the Šentvid, Golovec, Debeli hrib and Mali Vrh tunnels, by the Ljubljana Firefighting

Brigade; - In the Podmilj, Trojane, Jasovnik and Ločica tunnels, by the Fire Security Centre at Helios,

producer of coatings and synthetic resins, and by the Celje Professional Firefighting Unit in cooperation with the joint emergency team at the Vransko Motorway Base;

- In the Pletovarje and Golo Rebro tunnels, by the Slovenske Konjice Voluntary Firefighting Society;

- In the Cenkova cut-and-cover tunnel, by the Gornja Radgona Voluntary Firefighting Society and the Murska Sobota Voluntary Firefighting Society;

- In the Barnice and Podnanos tunnels, by the Postojna Voluntary Firefighting Society and the Ajdovščina Firefighting and Rescue Centre;

- In the Kastelec, Dekani, Markovec and Dobrava tunnels, by the Koper Firefighting Brigade Public Institute;

- In the Ljubelj tunnel, by the Bistrica pri Tržiču Voluntary Firefighting Society, in cooperation with the Kranj Firefighting and Rescue Service Public Institute;

- In the Sten tunnel near Škofja Loka, by the Škofja Loka Voluntary Firefighting Society.

(5) Emergency response tasks in the event of railway accidents in the long railway tunnels of Hrušica-Podrožca, Bohinjska Bistrica-Podbrdo, Preloge-Semič, or other tunnels longer than 2,000m, are performed by rescue structures organized, equipped and provided by the railway manager, in cooperation with the competent firefighting units designated in emergency response plans, such as the Jesenice Firefighting and Rescue Service, the Bohinjska Bistrica Voluntary Firefighting Society, the Tolmin Voluntary Firefighting Society, and the Semič Voluntary Firefighting Society, among others.

(6) Contractually determined emergency response tasks in the event of ecological and other disasters at sea are carried out by the Koper Firefighting Brigade Public Institute.

(7) Based on contracts with the Maribor Public Institute of Protective and Fire Rescue, the Kranj Firefighting and Rescue Service Public Institute, the Koper Firefighting Brigade Public Institute, the Novo Mesto Firefighting and Rescue Centre and, if required, with other units, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief organizes teams tasked with the decontamination of people injured in accidents involving dangerous substances and industrial and other accidents; the area of response is defined so that the whole national territory is covered. The public health service also participates in the work of these teams.

(8) For the purposes of water rescue tasks, the Celje Professional Firefighting Unit, the Koper Firefighting Brigade Public Institute, the Ljubljana Firefighting Brigade, the Kranj

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Firefighting and Rescue Service Public Institute, the Nova Gorica Firefighting Unit, a public institute for firefighting and rescue tasks, the Krško Professional Firefighting Unit and the Maribor Public Institute of Protective and Fire Rescue may train no more than ten firefighters as divers with autonomous diving equipment, whereas the Novo Mesto Firefighting and Rescue Centre, the Vuhred Voluntary Firefighting Society, the Gornja Radgona Voluntary Firefighting Society, the Murska Sobota Voluntary Firefighting Society, the Bled Voluntary Firefighting Society, the Sevnica Voluntary Firefighting Society and the Ptuj Voluntary Firefighting Society may train no more than six firefighters as divers with autonomous diving equipment for water rescue tasks.

(9) In accordance with contracts with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, firefighting units from paragraph 1 of this Article perform emergency response tasks in their designated area and, if called upon to respond, in a wider area, so that the entire national territory is covered.

(10) The performance of tasks from paragraphs 1-6 of this Article is partly financed by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, according to its criteria concerning the performance of all tasks of general importance. The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief also guides and coordinates the training of firefighters as divers from the previous paragraph.

Article 21

(1) Based on contracts with commercial companies, institutes and other organizations which own or use industrial and other buildings with an increased fire hazard, fire protection of such buildings may be provided by professional or voluntary firefighting units in accordance with the regulations on the fire service and fire protection. Firefighting units must arrive in the area of a building under fire protection with an emergency response team within no more than ten minutes from the moment of the alarm or emergency call; in general, the units must not be stationed more than 5km from a protected building.

(2) The composition of the emergency response team from the previous paragraph is determined according to the nature of the activities performed in the building under fire protection.

(3) A firefighting unit must not provide the fire protection from paragraph 1 as its main activity.

Article 22

(1) In accordance with emergency response plans, municipalities determine which firefighting units in flood-prone areas or areas with large bodies of flowing or standing water organize the required number of water rescue teams. Members of such teams must be trained in water rescue. A water rescue team is composed of no more than six members. Municipalities also determine the number of water rescue teams.

(2) Municipalities may also organize water rescue teams in cooperation with other non-governmental organizations or as part of Civil Protection technical rescue units.

(3) Members of units and teams from paragraphs 1 and 2 trained in water rescue may perform tasks of trained water rescue personnel under the conditions and in a manner prescribed by the regulations on protection against drowning.

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Article 23

In accordance with the law, the Minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters determines, based on the times of first departure laid out in this Decree, the approximate times of firefighters’ arrival at the scene of an accident, as well as criteria for fire cover for individual types of buildings.

Units and services of societies and other non-governmental organizations

Article 24

In order to perform protection, rescue and relief tasks, the following services of national importance are organized: - A mountain rescue service; - A cave rescue service; - An underwater rescue service; - Rescue dog units; - Temporary housing provision units; - Dispensaries and accommodation units; - An investigation service.

Article 25

(1) In accordance with the law, the mountain rescue service is organized by the Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia as a unified public service covering the entire national territory and consisting of 17 mountain rescue service stations. The response area of each mountain rescue service station is determined by a plan which must ensure the coverage of the entire national territory.

(2) The activities of the mountain rescue service are partly financed by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief; the basis of part-financing consists of 430 mountain rescuers of various profiles, and protective and rescue equipment and other protection, rescue and relief resources required for the operation of the mountain rescue service as determined by the Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia in agreement with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in accordance with this Decree.

(3) The main responsibilities of the mountain rescue service consist of: - First aid provision and rescue activities in a mountain environment; - The rescue of avalanche victims, including the use of avalanche dogs; - Searching for and inquiring about missing people in a mountain environment; - Participation in rescue from ski lifts, tall buildings and other difficult terrain; - Participation in emergency response in the event of natural and other disasters according

to the organization and capabilities of the service.

Article 26

(1) In accordance with the law, the cave rescue service is organized by the Speleological Association of Slovenia as a unified public service covering the entire national territory.

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(2) The activities of the cave rescue service are partly financed by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief; the basis of part-financing consists of 55 cave rescuers of various profiles, and protective and rescue equipment and other protection, rescue and relief resources required for the operation of the cave rescue service as determined by the Speleological Association of Slovenia in agreement with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in accordance with this Decree.

(3) The main responsibilities of the cave rescue service consist of: - Rescuing victims from karst caves; - Searching for missing people in karst caves; - Participation in mitigating the consequences of ecological disasters in the underground

karst environment; - Monitoring the risks in karst caves and reporting them to the competent authorities and to

the public; - Participation in emergency responses in the event of natural and other disasters according

to the organization and capabilities of the service.

Article 27

(1) In accordance with the law, the underwater rescue service is organized by the Slovenian Diving Federation as a unified public water rescue service covering the entire national territory.

(2) The activities of the underwater rescue service are partly financed by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief; the basis of part-financing consists of 60 divers of various profiles and other protection, rescue and relief resources required for the operation of the underwater rescue service as determined by the Slovenian Diving Federation in agreement with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in accordance with this Decree. The underwater rescue service may also carry out protection, rescue and relief tasks which require technical diving, provided its members are appropriately trained and equipped.

(3) In accordance with this Decree, water rescue tasks are also performed by firefighting units and by other non-governmental organization and Civil Protection teams; emergency response plans ensure the coordinated performance of water rescue tasks by various rescue services and units.

(4) The main responsibilities of the underwater rescue service consist of: - Search and rescue of missing and injured people in the water and on the water surface; - Participating in the rescue of people, animals, property and cultural heritage in the event

of floods and accidents on water; - Participating in urgent protection and other tasks to prevent or mitigate the consequences

of accidents on water.

Article 28

(1) Rescue dog units are organized by the Slovenian Kennel Club and the Association of Societies and Clubs of Rescue Dog Handlers of Slovenia in:

- The Ljubljana region, Two teams;

- The Gorenjska region, Two teams;

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- The North Primorska region, One team;

- The Coastal region, One team;

- The West Štajerska region, One team;

- The Podravje region, One team;

- The Notranjska region, One team;

- The Zasavje region, One team;

- The Dolenjska region, One team.

(2) The responsibilities of rescue dog units consist of searching for missing people, and search, rescue and aid provision to survivors under debris.

(3) The activities of the Slovenian Kennel Club and the Association of Societies and Clubs of Rescue Dog Handlers of Slovenia are partly financed by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief; the number of rescue dogs and their handlers provided by each organization and the required common rescue equipment are determined in agreement with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in accordance with this Decree.

Article 29

(1) Temporary housing provision units are organized by the Scout Association of Slovenia and the Slovenian Catholic Guides and Scouts Association in:

- The Ljubljana region, One squad and one team;

- The East Štajerska region, Two teams;

- The Coastal region, Two teams;

- The Gorenjska region, One team;

- The Notranjska region, One team;

- The North Primorska region, One team;

- The Koroška region, One team;

- The West Štajerska region, One team;

- The Podravje region, One team;

- The Pomurje region, One team;

- The Dolenjska region, One team.

(2) The responsibilities of temporary housing provision units consist of: - Setting up temporary housing for people at risk; - Participating in the provision of necessary living conditions in temporary housing facilities; - Assistance in setting up dispensaries for particular groups of people according to plans or

in providing temporary accommodation and care of accommodated people.

(3) The activities of the Scout Association of Slovenia and the Slovenian Catholic Guides and Scouts Association are partly financed by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief; the number and size of teams provided by each organization is determined in agreement with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in accordance with this Decree.

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Article 30

(1) The Slovenian Red Cross organizes a dispensary in Maribor and teams tasked with organizing dispensaries in public and other appropriate buildings in Ljubljana, Novo Mesto and Nova Gorica, and provides professional medical personnel for the operation of the mobile dispensary at the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

(2) The responsibilities of dispensaries consist of: - Providing care for sick and injured people; - Providing care for particularly vulnerable people (pregnant women, mothers with children,

disabled and elderly people etc.).

(3) In agreement with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, the Slovenian Red Cross also organizes a unified investigation service on the national territory, and first aid teams in accordance with this Decree.

(4) The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief partly finances the tasks under this Article and the training of first aid teams under Article 3 of this Decree, based on a mutual contract with the Red Cross; it also partly finances the activities of the Red Cross with regard to organized dissemination of first aid skills, especially among the young population, which is not regulated by sector-specific legislation.

Article 31

(1) Societies and other non-governmental organizations, with the exception of firefighting societies, determine the criteria for the organization and equipment of their units, services and other operational structures in agreement with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

(2) The criteria from the previous paragraph define the personnel structure and the type and amount of protection, rescue and relief equipment and resources used. The manner of use and maintenance, as well as the expiry date of protection, rescue and relief equipment and resources are also determined.

(3) In general, the protection, rescue and relief equipment and resources used by units, services and other operational structures of societies and other non-governmental organizations, and procured with funds from the national, regional and municipal budgets, must be typified and must adhere to prescribed standards.

Article 32

Notwithstanding this Decree, protection, rescue and relief units and services may also be established by other societies and other non-governmental organizations, provided they fulfil the following conditions: - They have trained personnel at their disposal; - They have appropriate equipment and resources at their disposal; - They ensure the timely readiness of units, services and other operational structures to

perform protection, rescue and relief tasks; - They perform protection, rescue and relief tasks based on a decision by a competent

municipal or regional authority and based on emergency response plans.

Article 33

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Depending on the threats, administrative regions and municipalities may also organize: - Rescue dog units; - Temporary housing provision units; - Amateur radio units; - Water rescue units; - Other units.

3. Protection, rescue and relief units, services and centres organized by national authorities

Article 34

(1) The following units, services and centres tasked with carrying out specific protection, rescue and relief tasks in the event of natural and other disasters are organized by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief and by competent ministries in cooperation with institutes or commercial companies: - An accommodation centre and a mobile dispensary; - A personal identification unit; - A mobile meteorology and hydrology unit; - An ecological laboratory with a mobile unit; - An emergency response unit in the event of accidents involving chlorine and other

corrosive substances; - A rescue unit in the event of mining accidents; - A mobile notification centre.

(2) The resources for the organization, equipment, training and operation of units, services and centres from the previous paragraph are provided in the context of activities of the competent ministries. The accommodation centre and the mobile dispensary from the previous paragraph are organized by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

(3) If required, the organization, equipment, training and other matters concerning the units, services and centres from paragraph 1 of this Article are arranged by means of contracts, while the emergency response service in the event of ecological or other disasters at sea is arranged additionally by means of an agreement between competent ministries or government decisions.

(4) By means of contracts with relevant commercial companies, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief organizes a service to assist with mitigating the consequences of accidents involving dangerous substances, particularly with removing and neutralizing dangerous substances, contaminated soil and other resources, in cooperation with other protection, rescue and relief forces. By means of contracts with relevant commercial companies, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief also organizes an emergency response unit in the event of accidents involving chlorine and other corrosive substances and a rescue unit in the event of mining accidents.

(5) By means of contracts with relevant research organizations or public institutes or in agreement with competent ministries, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief provides services and teams and ensures appropriate preparedness to identify the type and scope of threat, as well as to provide expertise in response to the use of weapons or means of mass destruction or other dangerous substances

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in accordance with national emergency response plans. The contracts or agreements regulate the equipment and training of services and teams, as well as other matters concerning their operation within the system of protection against natural and other disasters.

(6) The protection and rescue of sick and injured people using national aircraft is regulated by means of a specific arrangement between the ministries responsible for health care, internal affairs and defence, and in accordance with regulations on protection, rescue and relief operations by aircraft.

Article 35

(1) In accordance with regulations and international acts, the emergency response service in the event of ecological and other disasters and for search operations at sea is mostly composed of: - The Slovenian Maritime Administration with its maritime search and rescue coordination

centre, which directly manages maritime search and rescue tasks and coordinates the activities of services by national authorities operating at sea;

- The national service for the protection of coastal seas with implementing organizations; - The Civil Protection commander and the Coastal Region Civil Protection Headquarters,

relevant Civil Protection units or services, and the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief;

- Other national and local protection, rescue and relief forces and management authorities.

(2) In the event of major disasters, the activities of the authorities, units and forces from the previous paragraph and other protection, rescue and relief forces are managed, guided and coordinated by the Civil Protection commander, in cooperation with the Coastal Region Civil Protection Headquarters, according to the step-by-step principle.

(3) The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief organizes the performance of specific protection, rescue and relief tasks from paragraph 1 of this Article by means of contracts with relevant commercial companies and institutes having appropriate vessels and other equipment at their disposal.

Article 36

(1) If required, and in accordance with national emergency response plans, individual matters concerning protection, rescue and relief tasks in the event of major traffic accidents or mass traffic accidents on motorways and expressways, involving a large number of injured or suddenly ill people, are regulated by means of a specific arrangement between the ministries responsible for defence, internal affairs, health care and transport. In addition to firefighting units, emergency medical services and other units defined in this Decree, protection, rescue and relief tasks in the event of such accidents are also carried out by other rescue units and structures designated in emergency response plans. Emergency medical helicopter transport in the event of such accidents or other traffic accidents, or in the event of sudden illness, is carried out by the national aircraft performing transport of sick or injured people to medical services or between hospitals, and transport of infants in incubators. National aircraft also perform helicopter rescue operations in the mountains and in other difficult terrain.

(2) In particular, an activation plan coordinated between the ministries responsible for defence, internal affairs, health care and transport defines the procedures for activation, notification, reporting, communication and securing of the landing sites of helicopters and other

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aircraft used in providing emergency medical aid or carrying out protection, rescue and relief tasks.

(3) In cooperation with the emergency medical service, the motorway network manager and other competent authorities and services, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief provides regions with the necessary reserves of resources and equipment in the event of accidents involving a large number of injured or suddenly ill people. For the performance of protection, rescue and relief tasks under this Article, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief enables the use of the emergency response information and communication system.

Article 37

Search and rescue operations concerning a missing aircraft are coordinated by the Ministry responsible for Transport, in accordance with regulations and international acts. The search for a missing aircraft is carried out by national aircraft and other aircraft operating in the field of protection, rescue and relief, as well as by rescue units and services on the ground. The search for a missing aircraft or activities in the event of aircraft accidents considered small-scale in terms of the search area, the necessary forces in the air and on the ground, and the number of missing people is performed by the Police. In accordance with the step-by-step principle of the use of protection, rescue and relief forces, search and rescue activities in the event of large-scale aircraft accidents are coordinated by the competent regional Civil Protection commander or, if the search is conducted in the area of two or more regions, by the national Civil Protection commander. The competent commander also determines the scope and type of the protection, rescue and relief forces involved.

Article 38

(1) The criteria for the organization and equipment of units, services and centres from Article 34 which are not organized by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief are determined by the competent ministries in agreement with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. The criteria define the personnel structure of units, services and centres, and the type and amount of protection, rescue and relief equipment and resources.

(2) Ministries, research organizations, commercial companies, institutes and other organizations which organize units or teams or provide other capabilities based on contracts with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief under Articles 34, 35 and 36 of this Decree are responsible for their organization, manning, training, equipment and readiness. Such units, teams and other capabilities are activated based on emergency response plans, with the exception of specific units or teams subject to a special activation plan.

Article 39

(1) A national rapid response team is organized to carry out particularly difficult protection, rescue and relief tasks and to provide assistance to other countries.

(2) The national rapid response team is formed from national Civil Protection units and services and other protection, rescue and relief forces in the national jurisdiction or those partly financed by the state.

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(3) For the purposes of the operational management, organization, equipment and training of the national rapid response unit, a unit command is established within the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

(4) If necessary, rapid response units may also be established by administrative regions and municipalities.

(5) For the purposes of assistance to other countries, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief may, independently or in agreement with municipalities, administrative regions or non-governmental organizations, organize permanent or temporary operational structures or groups of rescuers or experts which may be deployed abroad independently or as part of the national rapid response unit. If necessary, the Slovenian Armed Forces participate in operational structures or groups which may be deployed abroad.

Article 39.a

In order to update, coordinate and harmonize the organizational criteria, and in particular to determine and implement the typified protective and rescue equipment used by various units, services and other operational structures when performing protection, rescue and relief tasks under Articles 17, 19, 20, 31 and 38 of this Decree, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief may appoint permanent or temporary expert working groups composed of representatives of units, services, and other operational structures performing such tasks. The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief provides the necessary working conditions for the activities of working groups.

III. EDUCATION AND TRAINING CRITERIA

1. Training of Civil Protection members

Article 40

The training of Civil Protection members is organized by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, administrative regions and municipalities, and by commercial companies, institutes and other organizations and national authorities organizing Civil Protection.

Article 41

(1) Training programmes for Civil Protection members are carried out by the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief with units in Sežana and Maribor; by national, regional and municipal authorities; by educational organizations fulfilling the prescribed conditions; and, based on contracts concluded by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, by the Sežana Institute of Firefighting and Rescue Service or other rescue institutes and organizations. The Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief also includes a firefighting school. As part of the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in Ig, an accommodation centre operates in Logatec for

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specific categories of people at risk or for protection, rescue and relief forces, as well as a training centre for the cave rescue service, the Slovenian Red Cross, radio amateurs, rescue dog training organizations and other operational structures by non-governmental organizations involved in protection, rescue and relief activities in accordance with regulations or operating in the public interest.

(2) Civil Protection training programmes of national importance are carried out by the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. Training may also be organized outside the centre's headquarters.

(3) Instructors implementing training programmes for Civil Protection members are chosen and designated by the founders of Civil Protection units and services. The instructors must fulfil the requirements laid out by the Minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters in accordance with the law.

(4) Introductory, basic and supplementary training of Civil Protection first aid units, or other first aid units and members of rescue services organized by societies and non-governmental organizations in accordance with this Decree and other regulations on protection against natural and other disasters, is carried out by the Slovenian Red Cross. Training of first aid units is carried out by the Slovenian Red Cross according to a programme laid out by the First Aid Professional Centre of the Slovenian Red Cross, in agreement with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. If the training is not directly carried out by the Slovenian Red Cross, the training organizer must receive preliminary authorization from the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in order to conduct the training programme. The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief gives such authorization based on a favourable opinion by the First Aid Professional Centre of the Slovenian Red Cross. In accordance with this Article, first aid training may also be carried out according to programmes laid out or approved by the Ministry of Health Working Group on Pre-hospital Level Education.

(5) Based on the state's international obligations, the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief from paragraph 1 of this Article also organizes and conducts training in cooperation with the European Union, NATO, the UN and other international organizations or government decisions.

2. Education and training of members of units and services of societies and other non-governmental organizations

Firefighter education and training

Article 42

(1) The Slovenian Firefighting Association, firefighting associations and voluntary firefighting societies train members of voluntary firefighting units according to programmes adopted by the competent authorities of the Firefighting Association of Slovenia, and programmes prescribed by the Minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters, in cooperation with the Slovenian Firefighting Association.

(2) In its firefighting school, the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief provides education and supplementary training of professional firefighters in cooperation with

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the Slovenian Professional Firefighting Association, and in accordance with training programmes prescribed by the minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters.

(3) In its firefighting school, the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief provides training of members of units under Article 20 of this Decree in cooperation with the Slovenian Firefighting Association and the Slovenian Professional Firefighting Association, and in accordance with training programmes prescribed by the minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters. In addition, other more demanding training programmes for firefighters and firefighting units prescribed by the minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters are provided in the firefighting school of the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in cooperation with the Slovenian Firefighting Association and the Slovenian Professional Firefighting Association.

Training of other units and services of societies and other non-governmental organizations

Article 43

Societies and other non-governmental organizations designated in this Decree are required to organize and carry out the training of members of their protection, rescue and relief units, services, and other operational structures under prescribed training programmes and in accordance with technical provisions.

Article 44

(1) The Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief carries out the training of units, services and other operational structures from the previous Article to perform specific, particularly more demanding, protection, rescue and relief tasks according to programmes prepared by competent bodies of societies and non-governmental organizations, and approved or prescribed by the minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters.

(2) If societies and other non-governmental organizations carry out training programmes to perform tasks in accordance with the Protection Against Natural and Other Disasters Act and this Decree in the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, they are subject to the same conditions as users of national budget funds.

Training of protection, rescue and relief units, services and centres organized by national authorities

Article 45

(1) The Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief carries out the training of unit, service and centre members from Article 34 of this Decree based on training programmes prescribed by the minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters.

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(2) Based on specific arrangements and according to capabilities, the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief may also carry out other programmes concerning the protection against natural and other disasters prescribed by responsible ministers.

(3) With regard to education and training programmes which are prescribed or approved by the minister in accordance with the Protection Against Natural and Other Disasters Act and this Decree, and which are carried out in the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, or in its subunits in Sežana, Pekre and in the Logatec training centre, it must be determined who bears the costs of these programmes.

Annex: Criteria for organizing and equipping firefighting units

The Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No 92/07) contains the following transitional and final provisions:

“IV. TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 46

(1) The formations designated for organizing and equipping Civil Protection units and services must be brought into line with this Decree by the minister responsible for protection against natural and other disasters within six months of entry into force of this Decree.

(2) Formations by units, services and other structures which are not defined in the previous paragraph must be brought into line with this Decree within one year of entry into force of this Decree.

(3) Commercial companies, institutes and other organizations, municipalities and national authorities must bring the organization of protection and relief forces in their jurisdiction into line with this Decree within two years of its entry into force. Administrative regions must bring the organization of protection, rescue and relief forces into line with this Decree within two years of their establishment.

(4) Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, the organization of protection, rescue and relief forces designated to respond to accidents in long motorway and other road tunnels must be brought into line with this Decree by 30 June 2008.

Article 47

Pending the adoption of criteria and formations from the previous Article, the following applies:

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- The Order on the Criteria for the Organization and Equipment of the Civil Protection Service (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, Nos. 15/00, 88/00 and correction 24/01);

- Formations of rescue services organized as public services of national importance operate within a scope based on contracts with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief upon the entry into force of this Decree.

Article 48

(1) Following the establishment of administrative regions, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief will delegate to the regions the technical rescue units from Article 5 of this Decree organized at the regional level, as well as the equipment and resources for these units. Logistics centres from Article 14 of this Decree will also be delegated to the administrative regions, with the exception of the wildfire centre and logistics centres in Koper, Nova Gorica, Postojna, Kranj, Celje, Maribor and Murska Sobota.

(2) Following the establishment of the administrative regions, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief will also delegate to the administrative regions the services established to support the activities of regional Civil Protection commanders and headquarters, as well as the protective and rescue equipment and tools provided for the operation of these services.

(3) The activities of regional Civil Protection commanders and regional Civil Protection headquarters will be terminated on the day of the establishment of Civil Protection commanders and headquarters of administrative regions.

Article 49

Following the establishment of the administrative regions, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief will delegate those regional emergency response plans which will not remain in national jurisdiction to the competent services of the administrative regions. Administrative regions must adopt their emergency response plans within two years of their establishment.

Article 50

(1) The professional firefighting units of the Ajdovščina Firefighting and Rescue Centre, the Ravne na Koroškem Firefighting Institute, the Trbovlje Firefighting Institute and other units which, upon the entry into force of this Decree, fell under category V, will remain in the same category or higher following the entry into force of this Decree.

(2) Firefighting units must be equipped with their respective firefighting vehicles and equipment defined in Article 19 of this Decree by 1 January 2014.

Article 51

On the day of entry into force of this Decree, the Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, Nos. 22/99, 99/99, 102/00, 33/02, 21/05, 110/05 in 5/07) will cease to apply.

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Article 52

This Decree will enter into force on the fifteenth day following the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.”

The Decree Amending the Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 54/09) contains the following final provision:

“Article 3

This Decree will enter into force on the fifteenth day following the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.”

The Decree Amending the Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 23/11) contains the following final provision:

“Article 7

This Decree will enter into force on the fifteenth day following the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.”

The Decree Amending the Decree on the Organization, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 27/16) contains the following transitional and final provision:

“THE TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISION

Article 9

The organization, equipment and training of protection, rescue and relief forces must be brought into line with this Decree within one year of its entry into force.

Article 10

This Decree will enter into force on the fifteenth day following the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.”

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