NEWS: Strengthening preparedness in the Adriatic: ASAP at ADRIASPILL Conference 2026
From 21 to 23 April 2026, the ADRIASPILL Conference 2026 brought together experts, institutions, and practitioners in Zadar (Croatia) to address one of the most pressing challenges for the region: preventing and responding to marine pollution.
Organised by ASAP partner ATRAC, the conference offered a key platform for dialogue across the Adriatic basin — a shared and highly sensitive marine environment where risks are inherently transnational.
A highlight of the programme took place at sea. During navigation towards the Natural Park of Zadar, participants were introduced to the first results of the ASAP project, providing a tangible overview of the progress made towards a more coordinated and effective response to accidental marine pollution in the Adriatic Sea.
Among the key results presented:
- the development of Adriatic-wide risk and vulnerability assessments, integrating environmental, maritime traffic, and socio-economic data
- the creation of a database of available anti-pollution resources, to support faster and more efficient mobilisation
- the testing of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) through real-life exercises, including the at-sea exercise conducted in Dubrovnik in October 2025
- the planning of upcoming joint activities, including the upcoming joint exercise in Koper and continued refinement of operational tools
Together, these outputs reflect a common effort to move beyond fragmented national approaches and towards a more harmonised and operational response system.
Testing SOPs and strengthening coordination
Beyond the conference sessions, ASAP partners convened for a dedicated meeting focused on the testing and further development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The meeting featured a workshop involving project partners and relevant stakeholders, aimed at validating coordination mechanisms and identifying areas for improvement in cross-border response, also in view of the upcoming exercise at sea in Slovenia planned for September 2026.
Discussions also explored how SOPs can be integrated into broader regional frameworks, including the future Adriatic Contingency Plan, and considered possible frameworks to support long-term cooperation among Adriatic countries.
Towards a permanent coordination platform
The ADRIASPILL Conference marked an important milestone for ASAP, not only in terms of dissemination, but also in advancing its strategic objectives.
By bringing together key actors from across the Adriatic region, the event reinforced the importance of coordinated and continuous cooperation in addressing marine pollution risks.
The work carried out within ASAP — from risk mapping to operational procedures — is laying the groundwork for a Permanent Coordination Platform (PCP) connecting Adriatic countries.
This platform is envisaged as a long-term framework to ensure sustained collaboration, improved preparedness, and a more effective joint response to maritime pollution incidents across the region.
A shared responsibility
In a semi-enclosed basin such as the Adriatic Sea, where environmental, economic, and social systems are closely interconnected, preparedness cannot be addressed at national level alone.
The ADRIASPILL Conference 2026 confirmed that cooperation is not only necessary, but already underway — and that initiatives such as ASAP are contributing to turning this cooperation into a concrete, operational reality.
