Founded in 2008, the role of the Crisis Center (CDCS — Centre De Crise et de Soutien) of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) is to monitor, anticipate, warn about, and manage crisis situations abroad requiring a response to an event that either threatens the safety of French and foreign nationals or amounts to an emergency humanitarian crisis. It is also responsible for post-crisis support to bring about stability.

Since November 2015, the Head of the CDCS has directed the Cross-Government Victim Support Unit (CIAV — Cellule Interministérielle d’Aide aux Victimes), activated by the Prime Minister in the event of a terrorist attack on French territory and operating from the CDCS offices.