On 9 November 2026, Deputy Secretary General Zsuzsanna Király participated in the opening session of ResiliEnhance Platform 2026, held at the International Centre for Mechanical Sciences (CISM) in Udine, Italy.
Organised with the support of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and in cooperation with the University of Udine, the event brought together representatives of UNESCO Chairs, international organisations, academic institutions and public authorities to strengthen cooperation on disaster risk reduction, climate action and resilience.
This year's edition, entitled Bridging Science, Policy and Action for Enhancing Resilience in the Context of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action, was developed in coordination with UNESCO and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
In her address, Király reaffirmed the CEI's commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and resilience across Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. She stressed that climate change and disaster risks transcend national borders and require coordinated responses, shared knowledge and effective partnerships.
She particularly emphasised the need to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge, policymaking and concrete action, translating research into effective measures and long-term investments. She also highlighted the importance of integrating disaster risk reduction and climate action into more coherent strategies.
Király praised the ResiliEnhance Platform as a valuable example of international and interdisciplinary cooperation and welcomed the forthcoming scientific publication, ResiliEnhance Project: Leveraging Knowledge to Enhance Disaster Resilience for a Safer and Sustainable Future, as a contribution to connecting research with policy development.
She expressed appreciation to the University of Udine, particularly Professor Stefano Grimaz, for its scientific leadership, to the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia for its support, and to CISM for hosting the event, while acknowledging the contributions of UNESCO, UNDRR and the international experts involved.
The two-day meeting featured interactive sessions aimed at developing shared approaches and practical recommendations. Király concluded by reaffirming the CEI's continued support for the Platform as a bridge between science, policy and action, contributing to more resilient societies across the region.
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