Thailand and EU Discuss Cooperation on Civil Protection, Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

Thailand and EU Discuss Cooperation on Civil Protection, Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

On 17 August 2026, Ms. Somrudee Poopornanake, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, met with H.E. Mrs. Luisa Ragher, Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand and Mrs. Andrea Koulaimah, Director for Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Pacific at the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), to discuss Thailand-EU cooperation on civil protection and disaster management, as well as humanitarian assistance for Myanmar Displaced Persons (MDPs). The meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, National Security Council (NSC), Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), Chulalongkorn University, and relevant agencies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both sides exchanged views on related policies and instruments and explored opportunities for future cooperation in disaster management and civil protection. Discussions focused in particular on the deployment of technology, including the EU's Copernicus programme, with an emphasis on knowledge transfer and the use of satellite data to strengthen Thailand's disaster prevention and response capabilities. Potential applications include addressing forest fires, floods, cross-border pollution and civil protection during times of crisis.

Both sides also discussed humanitarian assistance for Myanmar Displaced Persons (MDPs). DG ECHO commended Thailand's policy of facilitating access for MDPs to the labour market, noting that such efforts could contribute to their long-term self-reliance. Both sides exchanged views on skills development and vocational preparation to help MDPs acquire skills aligned with labour market demand.