(ANSA) - UDINE, 04 FEB - The Adriatic Sensitive Areas Protection mechanism (ASAP) project, presented today in Trieste and funded by the Interreg IPA ADRION programme, aims to strengthen protection of the Adriatic Sea to respond swiftly to potential marine pollution incidents, particularly hydrocarbon spills. The initiative is led by the Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI) and, for Italy, involves participation by OGS. Today, the results of the project's first phase were announced, including an analysis of environmental risks, the outcomes of oil-spill simulations, mapping of the most vulnerable coastal areas, and an overview of the resources available to enhance cross-border cooperation in emergency management. The environmental protection network brings together leading scientific institutions, maritime authorities, and stakeholders from Italy, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. "Concrete projects like ASAP," CEI Secretary General Franco Dal Mas explained, "turn our priorities into tangible actions, strengthening resilience and reducing the impacts of pollution through a transnational mechanism involving six member countries. The data presented today do not merely provide a snapshot of the situation; they guide decisions, investments, and public policies, improving coordination and response capacity to protect the sea, the coasts, and communities—aware that no country can act alone in a borderless context." Vinko Bandelj (OGS) underlined that "an estimate has been made of the coastal vulnerability of the entire Adriatic. This is where oil tankers, cruise ships, container ships, and other vessels operate—within a confined area. "Of course, no one hopes an accident will happen - he added - and the Adriatic is a highly monitored sea, and regulations are enforced, but the risk remains, and we must be prepared to manage an emergency should something occur." (ANSA).