Albania has reached an important milestone in the project “Capacity enhancing of the Albanian marine pollution preparedness and response system”. Co-financed in the framework of the Know-how Exchange Programme by Italy through the CEI Fund at the EBRD and implemented by the Adriatic Training and Research Centre (ATRAC, Croatia) in partnership with the Inter-institutional Maritime Operational Centre (IMOC, Albania), the project aims to align Albania’s preparedness and response mechanisms with EU standards and strengthen its ability to protect the Adriatic Sea from accidental pollution.
During the first six months, several important activities have been completed. The process began with the Opening Conference in Durres on 27 May 2025, which brought together representatives from institutions, NGOs, and local authorities to present the project’s objectives and emphasize the importance of international cooperation in tackling marine pollution. The following day, a dedicated Workshop gathered operational staff from ministries, ports, response companies, and other stakeholders to discuss Albania’s contingency plans, share experiences, and raise awareness about pollution risks affecting the Adriatic coastline. These exchanges also helped identify priority topics for future capacity-building.
In parallel, ATRAC collected input from participants through detailed questionnaires in order to design a tailored training curriculum. This work is being complemented by the preparation of a comprehensive Participants’ Manual, which will serve as a reference guide during the upcoming training sessions.
Looking ahead, the next milestone will be a three-day training course and a tabletop exercise scheduled for January 2026 back-to-back with the project Final Confeence. These activities will provide hands-on experience, ensuring that Albania’s institutions can act quickly and effectively in case of marine pollution incidents.
By combining knowledge transfer, awareness-raising, and practical training, the project is strengthening Albania’s shield against environmental threats. In doing so, it contributes not only to the protection of the country’s coastline but also to the resilience of the entire Adriatic region.
For more info: dovier@cei.int
