NEWS: ASAP partners meet in Kotor to advance joint preparedness in the Adriatic

On 14 May 2026, the ASAP partnership gathered in Kotor for its 3rd Steering Committee Meeting — a key milestone for the project and an important moment to shape the future of regional cooperation in the Adriatic.

Hosted by partner Our Action, the meeting brought together institutions and experts working towards a shared goal: improving how countries across the Adriatic prevent and respond to marine pollution incidents.

A central focus of the discussions was the project’s common Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). During the meeting, partners fine-tuned and formally approved the procedures, marking a significant step forward towards more coordinated and effective cross-border responses. The SOPs are designed to ensure that, in the event of an emergency, information exchange, operational decisions, and the mobilisation of resources can take place more quickly and efficiently across the region.

Beyond the technical work, the meeting also reflected a broader strategic ambition shared by the partnership. Discussions highlighted the common understanding that stronger and more permanent coordination mechanisms will be needed in the future to address marine pollution risks in the Adriatic Sea. In this context, partners started shaping a Roadmap for a future coordination platform capable of supporting long-term cooperation and joint preparedness beyond the duration of the ASAP project.

An equally important point emerging from the discussions was the recognised need for a broader Adriatic contingency framework. Partners agreed on the importance of integrating the newly developed SOPs into a more comprehensive regional contingency plan, reinforcing the vision of a truly coordinated Adriatic response system.

Partners also looked ahead to the next major milestone: the Exercise at Sea planned for September 2026 in Slovenia, which will test coordination mechanisms and operational readiness in a real-life scenario. Alongside this, updates were shared on ongoing training activities designed to strengthen capacities across the region.

Communication and outreach were also on the agenda, with partners aligning on upcoming national campaigns and a project event planned in Brussels later this year, aimed at sharing ASAP results and policy recommendations with a wider European audience.

By combining technical progress, strategic planning, and open dialogue, the Kotor meeting marked another important step towards building a more coordinated, resilient, and cooperative Adriatic region.