
Article 1 
This Decision lays down rules for the implementation of Decision No 1313/2013/EU as regards:

((a)) the initial composition of rescEU in terms of capacities and its quality requirements;
((b)) the financing of capacities during the transitional period referred to in Article 35 of Decision No 1313/2013/EU.
Article 2 

1. rescEU shall consist of aerial forest firefighting capacities.
2. The aerial forest firefighting capacities referred to in paragraph 1 shall include:
(a) aerial forest firefighting capacities using airplanes;
(b) aerial forest firefighting capacities using helicopters.
3. The quality requirements for the capacities referred to in paragraph 2 are set out in the Annex.
Article 3 

1. The Commission shall define in the annual work programme the criteria for awarding direct grants to cover the costs referred to in Article 35 of Decision No 1313/2013/EU which are necessary to ensure rapid access to capacities corresponding to those referred to in Article 2.
2. The costs referred to in Article 35 of Decision No 1313/2013/EU shall include stand-by costs, including if applicable, costs related to maintenance, costs related to staff, costs related to training, including the training of crew and technical staff, costs related to warehousing, costs related to insurance, as well as other costs necessary to ensure the effective availability of such capacities.
Article 4 
Chapter 7 of Implementing Decision 2014/762/EU is deleted.
Article 5 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 8 April 2019.
For the Commission
Christos STYLIANIDES
Member of the Commission
ANNEX
1. 

Tasks 
— Contribute to the extinction of large forest and vegetal fires by performing aerial firefighting.
Capacities 
— 2 airplanes with a minimum capacity of 3 000 litres each or 1 airplane with a minimum capacity of 8 000 litres.
— Ability to perform continuous operations.
Main components 
— Airplane.
— Minimum of two crews.
— Technical staff.
— Field maintenance kit.
— Communication equipment allowing air-to-air and air-to-ground communication.
Self-sufficiency 
— Equipment storage and maintenance of the equipment of the module;
— Equipment for the communication with the relevant partners, notably those in charge of the coordination on site.
Deployment 
— Availability for departure maximum 3 hours after the acceptance of the offer in the case of a rapid intervention response.
— Ability to be deployed in a range of 2 000 km within maximum 24 hours.



2. 

Tasks 
— Contribute to the extinction of large forest and vegetal by performing aerial firefighting.
Capacities 
— 1 helicopter with a minimum capacity of 3 000 litres
— Ability to perform continuous operations.
Main components 
— Helicopter with minimum two crews.
— Technical staff.
— Water bucket or releasing kit.
— 1 maintenance set.
— 1 spare parts set.
— Rescue hoists.
— Communication equipment allowing air-to-air and air-to-ground communication.
Self-sufficiency 
— Equipment storage and maintenance of the equipment of the module;
— Equipment for the communication with the relevant partners, notably those in charge of the coordination on site.
Deployment 
— Availability for departure maximum 3 hours after the acceptance of the offer in the case of a rapid intervention response.
— Ability to be deployed in a range of 2 000 km within maximum 24 hours.


