The Netherlands National Handbook on Decision-Making in Crisis Situations VII Situations abroad 1. The national crisis organisation can also be mobilised if situations abroad could have consequences for the Netherlands. The response is based on treaties the Netherlands has ratified and bilateral and multilateral agreements it has concluded. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a special role in such situations. Other ministries can also be involved if they have a specific, primary responsibility or substantive knowledge, expertise or resources. The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, for example, can provide assistance in floods and nuclear incidents; the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport can respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases, and the National Cyber Security Centre can respond to cyber security incidents or disruptions to transnational vital infrastructure. 2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible outside the Netherlands for consular services, diplomatic efforts and repatriations. In instances where the MCMC and/or ICMC are dealing with situations outside the Netherlands, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participates in the MCMC and/or ICMC. Where the ministry is involved in coordinating the repatriation of Dutch nationals to the Netherlands, it will bring in the NCC and other ministries to help with their reception and assistance once they return to the Netherlands. In such cases, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for these individuals until they are back on Dutch soil. Once in the Netherlands, assistance is coordinated by the Ministry of Security and Justice and provided by the NOCC in close cooperation with the operational and administrative partners concerned. 3. The national crisis organisation can also be mobilised if situations in a conflict area have consequences for the Netherlands. The Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Security and Justice contribute the expertise they have gained from military and civil missions. The Ministry of Defence is also capable of acting in large-scale and high-intensity conflict situations if necessary. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence can also use their international contacts to work with other countries if required. 4. International humanitarian assistance abroad falls within the policy remit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister of Security and Justice is responsible for policy on civil protection within the European Union. 5. The relevant ministry is responsible for responding to foreign requests for assistance and/or information. As the single point of contact, the NCC directs requests for assistance from the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) or the NATO Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the DCC of the relevant line ministry and the NOCC. 29