On 11–12 December 2025, RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation, in close cooperation with the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE), hosted the regional workshop “Transboundary Use of Incident Command Systems in Complex Disaster Response Scenarios.” The activity was jointly designed and implemented as part of the continuous partnership between RACVIAC and DPPI SEE, aimed at strengthening regional disaster preparedness, response coordination, and interoperability.
The workshop gathered 20 experts and representatives of civil protection authorities, emergency management institutions, and relevant ministries from across South-Eastern Europe. Discussions focused on policy, operational, and technical dimensions of applying the Incident Command System (ICS) in cross-border and complex emergency situations, reflecting DPPI SEE’s mandate to support harmonisation of approaches and capacity building among its Member States.
Responding to the growing complexity of disasters with transboundary impacts, the workshop underlined the need for common procedures, aligned policies, and enhanced interoperability among emergency services in the region. Building on the outcomes of an introductory ICS workshop jointly organised by DPPI SEE and RACVIAC in November 2024, this follow-up activity placed particular emphasis on policy alignment, practical operationalisation of ICS, and the exchange of real-life experiences from national authorities involved in cross-border emergency response.
The workshop was officially opened by Ambassador Constantin-Mihail Grigorie, Director of RACVIAC, who highlighted the strong cooperation with DPPI SEE as a key enabler of the event. He reaffirmed the shared commitments outlined in the long-standing Letter of Interest between RACVIAC and DPPI SEE, emphasising their joint role in advancing regional cooperation in disaster preparedness and response.
Ambassador Grigorie noted that the use of ICS in complex, transboundary emergencies continues to face challenges due to divergent national legal frameworks, procedures, and organisational structures across South-Eastern Europe. He encouraged participants to engage actively, share operational lessons learned during the simulation exercise, and make use of the workshop as a platform for confidence-building, trust enhancement, and the development of sustainable professional networks—objectives strongly promoted by DPPI SEE in its regional activities.
The two-day programme included expert inputs, moderated thematic discussions, and an interactive table-top exercise, jointly facilitated to reflect DPPI SEE’s regional perspective and operational realities of its Member States. Particular attention was devoted to policy harmonisation, legal and organisational constraints, and information-sharing mechanisms in cross-border emergencies. The final session produced a joint set of key observations and regional recommendations, contributing to DPPI SEE’s broader efforts to promote common standards, improved interoperability, and increased readiness of emergency response systems in South-Eastern Europe.
The workshop concluded with a closing ceremony, during which certificates were awarded to participants. In his closing remarks, Ambassador Grigorie expressed appreciation to all contributors and underlined the value of DPPI SEE’s role in connecting national authorities and translating technical discussions into regional cooperation outcomes. Participants were encouraged to take the workshop’s conclusions back to their respective institutions, supporting DPPI SEE’s objective of transforming knowledge exchange into concrete policies, frameworks, and joint initiatives that enhance regional preparedness and resilience in transboundary disaster scenarios.
