L 87/20 Official Journal of the European Union 25.3.2004 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 29 December 2003 laying down rules for the implementation of Council Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom establishing a Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance inter- ventions (notified under document number C(2003) 5185) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/277[EC, Euratom) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, Having regard to Council Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom of 23 October 2001 establishing a Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions ('), and in particular Article 8(2)(a) to (e) and (g) thereof, Whereas: 1 () ) ) 0 The Community mechanism established by Decision 2001/792[EC, hereinafter referred to as ‘the mechanisn’, is intended to provide support in the event of major emergencies which may require urgent response action, including emergencies occurring within the context of crisis management referred to in Title V of the Treaty on European Union. In the event of the latter the Joint Declaration by the Council and the Commission on the use of the Community civil protection mechanism in crisis management referred to in Title V of the Treaty on European Union will be taken into account. The mechanism is intended to help ensure better protec- tion primarily of people, but also of the environment and property, in the event of a major emergency, including accidental marine pollution, as provided for in Decision No 2850/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2000 setting up a Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution (%). L 297,15.11.2001, p. 7. L 332, 28.12.2000, p. 1. 3) Participation in the Community mechanism is open to Member States, but should also be open to Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein in the light of Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 135/2002 of 27 September 2002 amending Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement on cooperation in specific fields outside the four free- doms (*). With regard to the candidate countries, partici- pation should be open to those countries having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commission. A procedure for the provision of up-to-date information on the resources available in the States participating in the mechanism for different types of interventions should be established, in order to facilitate, in the event of emergency, the mobilisation of intervention teams, experts and other resources and to ensure a better use of those resources. A monitoring and information centre should be estab- lished which should be accessible and able to react immediately 24 hours a day in order to serve the States participating in the mechanism and the Commission. The monitoring and information centre is an essential element of the mechanism because it ensures uninter- rupted links with the civil protection operational contact points of the States participating in the mechanism. The monitoring and information centre should, in case of emergency, provide immediate access to essential infor- mation on experts, intervention teams and other inter- vention support available. () OJ L 336, 12.12.2002, p. 36.