On 14 May 2026, partners of the ASAP project gathered in Kotor for the project's 3rd Steering Committee Meeting, hosted by project partner Our Action. The meeting marked an important milestone for the partnership, bringing together institutions and experts from across the Adriatic region to advance joint efforts on preparedness and response to marine pollution incidents.
Discussions focused on key developments under the project's technical work. Partners successfully fine-tuned and approved the project's common Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), a major step towards ensuring more coordinated, efficient and harmonised cross-border responses in case of marine pollution emergencies.
The meeting also highlighted a growing shared vision among partners on the need to strengthen long-term regional coordination. Discussions converged on the importance of establishing a more permanent cooperation framework for the Adriatic, with partners contributing to the initial structure of a Roadmap for a future coordination platform capable of supporting joint preparedness and operational cooperation beyond the duration of the project.
A particularly important aspect emerging from the discussions was the recognised need for a broader Adriatic contingency framework, integrating the SOPs into a more comprehensive regional contingency plan. This common understanding reflects the partnership's ambition to move beyond isolated procedures and towards a truly coordinated Adriatic response system.
Updates were also shared on capacity-building activities, including upcoming trainings, as well as on preparations for the next Exercise at Sea, scheduled to take place in Slovenia in September 2026.
In addition, partners coordinated upcoming dissemination activities, including national campaigns and a project event planned in Brussels later this year, aimed at presenting ASAP results and policy recommendations to a wider European audience.
By combining technical progress with strategic dialogue, the Kotor meeting reaffirmed the importance of continuous cooperation, shared planning and mutual trust in addressing marine pollution risks in one of Europe's most sensitive and interconnected sea basins.
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