We are pleased to share that representatives of DPPI SEE took part in the Crisis Management Days 2025 conference, held from 3–4 June 2025 in Opatija, Croatia. Organized by the University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica and partners (including Ministry of Interior - Civil Protection Directorate), this annual event gathers leading professionals, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of crisis and disaster management.

As this event was part of its Disaster Management Training Programme (DMTP), DPPI SEE contributed to the conference through the participation of representatives from its member states. Additionally, the Head of the DPPI SEE Secretariat took part as a speaker in the panel titled “The European Union's Security and Defence Policy: Challenges and Opportunities,” offering insights into regional experiences, strategic directions, and the evolving civil protection landscape in South-Eastern Europe.

Our participation reflects DPPI SEE’s ongoing commitment to regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and alignment with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and UN efforts in disaster risk reduction. The event provided an important platform for dialogue on building more resilient and better-prepared societies.

The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE) proudly took part in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2025, held in Geneva, Switzerland between 2-6 June 2025, under the auspices of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

Representatives of the DPPI SEE Secretariat, together with national delegations from its Member States, actively engaged in the Platform’s high-level sessions, including thematic panels, plenary discussions, and ministerial meetings. Their participation reflected the region’s strong commitment to the implementation of the regional approach in disaster prevention and preparedness, as well as the promotion of coordinated and collaborative approaches to resilience-building.

Throughout the event, DPPI SEE Secretariat and member states:

• Contributed to discussions on disaster risk governance, preparedness, early warning, and anticipatory action.

• Shared regional experiences on inter-agency coordination, cross-border cooperation, and capacity-building for disaster risk management.

• Highlighted the added value of regional mechanisms such as DPPI SEE in enhancing collective disaster preparedness and prevention efforts.

• Engaged with international partners and stakeholders to foster new opportunities for technical cooperation and investment in disaster risk reduction.

Participation in GPDRR 2025 reinforced the strategic importance of regional solidarity and knowledge exchange in disaster risk reduction and confirmed the relevance of DPPI SEE’s mission to serve as a platform for cooperation, innovation, and shared responsibility in South-Eastern Europe.

The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE) successfully co-hosted the regional workshop on "Stress Management in Response to Natural and Other Disasters", held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 16 to 18 December 2024.

Organized by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, this workshop was a valuable contribution to the DPPI SEE’s Disaster Management Training Programme for 2024.

Workshop Highlights:

• Empowering participants with strategies for managing stress effectively during crises.
• Enhancing skills in psychological support for rescuers and decision-makers.
• Addressing sensitive topics, including coping with grief, suicide in rescue units, and fostering personal growth post-crisis.
• Providing individual and peer support for psychological preparedness in disaster response.

The workshop brought together providers and organizers of psychological support services, rescuers in need of assistance, and decision-makers from DPPI SEE member countries.

DPPI SEE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, Sector for Emergency Management of Republic of Serbia, was proud to host the workshop on "Emergency Management and Cross-Sector Coordination with a Focus on Forest Fires", from October 8 to 10, 2024, in Belgrade, Serbia. Attending member states include: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia.

The event brought together a diverse group of colleagues from the field of civil protection and disaster risk reduction, including local government officials and emergency response teams through which the attendees gained crucial insight from both, administrative and practical aspects of managing emergency situations caused by forest fires. The primary objective was to facilitate discussion and exchange experiences and common practices among various member state sectors in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from forest fire incidents. Participants engaged in discussions on best practices, shared experiences, and identified gaps in current emergency management protocols through their respective presentations.

The workshop featured several keynote speakers who provided valuable insights into effective emergency management strategies. Topics covered included the importance of real-time data sharing, the role of community engagement in disaster preparedness, and the integration of technology in firefighting efforts. Group sessions allowed participants to brainstorm solutions to specific challenges, such as coordinating evacuation plans and improving communication between agencies. The interactive format fostered a spirit of collaboration, leading to the development of actionable recommendations tailored to the unique needs of the region.

As a result of the workshop, attendees expressed a renewed commitment to strengthening cross-sector coordination in forest fire management. The insights gained and connections made during the workshop will be invaluable in enhancing community resilience and ensuring that all stakeholders are better prepared to address the challenges posed by forest fires in the future.

The one-and-a-half-day workshop titled “Incident Command Systems in South-Eastern Europe – Tools and Procedures for Interaction of Emergency Services” was held on 20-21 November 2024 in Zagreb, Croatia. This event was jointly organized by the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE) and RACVIAC (Centre for Security Cooperation).

During the workshop, participants engaged in discussions addressing the challenges and opportunities of coordinating national Incident Command Systems (ICS) across South-Eastern Europe.

The workshop focused on enhancing regional cooperation in disaster preparedness and response, fostering alignment with Euro-Atlantic standards.

The event provided a valuable opportunity to share tools, procedures, and best practices essential for effective interaction between emergency services during large-scale disasters.

The Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in collaboration with the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative of South-Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE), held a workshop titled "Preparation of Project Proposals in the Field of Protection and Rescue, and Application to Available EU Funds - Exchange of Experiences" on 25-26 September
2024, in Jahorina.
In addition to representatives from various levels of the host country, the workshop welcomed participants from DPPI SEE member states, including Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia, as well as representatives from the European Commission’s DG ECHO. The workshop aimed to provide a platform for participants from DPPI SEE countries to showcase best practices and exchange experiences in project development. Key discussions revolved around the challenges civil protection authorities face—from conducting institutional needs assessments and identifying relevant project topics, to writing applications and establishing project consortiums.
During the second part of the workshop, participants were divided into four working groups. Each group selected a relevant project topic, navigated application procedures, adhered to defined timelines and milestones, and presented their brief project proposals.

The DPPI SEE Secretariat and its member states actively contributed as panelists and representatives in various panels and meetings, including the Ministerial Meeting at the Europe & Central Asia Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Budva from November 6–8, 2024.

The Head of the DPPI SEE Secretariat delivered the opening speech for the panel “Road to Resilience: Children and Youth in Action,” where he emphasized DPPI SEE's role in fostering a child- and family-sensitive regional approach in disaster risk management and civil protection. He also announced the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DPPI SEE and UNICEF, highlighting seven new collaborative activities planned under this partnership over the next two years.

Additionally, the DPPI SEE Secretariat participated in the MCR2030 Regional Coordinating Committee and in the session, “Towards a Network of Networks: Connecting Sub-Regional Hubs in Europe and Central Asia Region for Accelerating DRR.” The Head of the Secretariat also contributed to the European Commission Workshop on Regional Cooperation in Disaster Risk Management, presenting DPPI SEE’s perspective on regional collaboration in this field.

At the Ministerial Meeting, the Head of DPPI SEE Secretariat underscored its unique role as a prominent sub-regional hub in South-Eastern Europe, enhancing capacity across the region by integrating similarities and balancing differences among the ten national civil protection authorities. He highlighted DPPI SEE’s Disaster Management Training Program (DMTP), which organizes joint training, exercises, and activities to build a holistic approach in disaster preparedness and prevention through cross-sectoral support and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Head further outlined DPPI SEE’s recent efforts to expand its activities and partnerships, including with UNICEF, UNDRR, UNDP, the Sphere Secretariat, DHL, RCC, RACVIAC, the Council of Europe, and others. He closed by emphasizing DPPI SEE’s vision for a stronger, more resilient region, where member states play a larger role in providing assistance and expertise across Europe and beyond.

The workshop organized by Sector for Emergency Management of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia and implemented within DPPI SEE’s Disaster Management Training Programme for 2024 gathered representative from eight DPPI SEE countries and other representatives from energy company “NIS” a.d., Red Cross of Serbia and Association of speleological organizations in Serbia. 

The workshop emphasized the importance of collaboration between civil protection authorities and external partners. Discussions centered on developing effective partnerships to enhance disaster prevention, preparedness and response, showcasing successful case studies from DPPI SEE countries. Key topics included the critical role of external partners in disaster risk management and the need for resilient infrastructure and comprehensive framework in dealing with emergencies and disasters. Additionally, the workshop examined current institutional setup, policies and legislative frameworks, recommending improvements to support and integrate private-public partnerships into national disaster management strategies. 

The workshop resulted in a commitment to strengthen and expand private-public partnerships among participating countries and organizations, with the formation of new collaborations aimed at enhancing regional disaster preparedness. Participants assessed the current achievements and approaches in developing private-public partnership in disaster risk management and formulated actionable measures and recommendations, focusing on improved coordination, communication, and resource-sharing, serving for capacity building within the DPPI SEE network, planning future workshops and joint exercises. Enhanced networking and knowledge exchange fostered a community of practice in disaster risk management, with an agreement to advocate for policy changes supporting institutionalized private-public partnerships at national and regional levels.

From May 13 to 17, 2024, the "Basic Training for Rescue Dogs and Dog Handlers" took place in Jagodina, Republic of Serbia. This training was a collaborative effort between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Slovenia as part of the Disaster Management Training Programme for 2024. It was organized by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief and the Sector for Emergency Management of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia.
The training aimed to equip participants with basic knowledge and skills for working with young dogs and to introduce them to emergency situations such as earthquakes, explosions, collapsing buildings, and open area searches for injured or missing persons. It included both theoretical and practical components and was conducted at the abandoned "Juhor" AD company building and in the Kučaj-Beljanica National Park.
The event was attended by 20 experts from seven DPPI SEE countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.

The first ever full scale simulation exercise within DPPI SEE is completed. DPPI FLEX 2023 was held between 23-27 October 2023 in Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina with participation of all 10 DPPI SEE member states. The exercise was organized in close coordination with the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Sector for Rescue and Protection and Brcko District Department for Public Security. Drone flying operations, data management, solving logistics problems regarding incoming humanitarian assistance and camp management where the topics of the exercise all of them combined in one scenario. The activation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism was used to coordinate the incoming assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This process was also supported by deploying a EUCPT, again composed of members from the DPPI SEE member states ( and one Liaison Officer from ERCC). The OSOCC had a specific task having in mind the above mentioned operations (drones, logistics, camp management). Therefore 3 cells were created within the OSOCC covering each of the segments. Some of the immediate lessons identified are towards STANDARDIZATION - what is a drone team? technical and personal requirements? FLEXIBILITY - the exercise required splitting of the teams and COMMUNICATION - key element in planning and implementing the exercise especially when new technologies and approaches are implemented.

Image Gallery

The aim of this workshop was the exchange of experiences and practices between member countries of the DPPI SEE, which are, among other things, navigating through the procedures of  providing, transiting and receiving international aid during emergencies in 2023. The discussion, presentations and the exchange of information of all member countries regarding the organization of the entire process of managing the procedures for providing, transiting and receiving international aid during natural disasters in 2023 gave clear insight into their respective capacities and capabilities in times of crisis, as well as further possibilites for improvement. Where, on the unfortunate examples of catastrophes that struck Turkey and Slovenia, which were affected by a devastating earthquake and floods, we could see all the advantages and disadvantages during the provision, transit and reception of aid. The experiences that the participants shared with their colleagues through their presentations are of great importance for the further development of protection and rescue.

Colleagues attending the workshop that were present during the DPPI FLEX 2023 shared their insights of some of the objectives that were in focus during the exercise. The main topics that were discussed, touched upon the operational capacities and coordination between of teams coming from DPPI member states, as well as coordination of activities through the UCPM and ERCC. Through FLEX 2023, participants gained first hand experience regarding the logistics of following procedures and guidelines related to HNS, EUCPT and SPHERE.

In cooperation with the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of Republic of Slovenia, DPPI SEE hosted the Critical Incident Stress Management workshop in Ljubljana. The workshop was held between 15-16 November with participation of all DPPI SEE member states. Experts in the field of psychology, social work and first responders had the opportunity to exchange of methods and practices used for psychological support to first responders after facing critical incidents at the work place. The Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of Republic of Slovenia use the opportunity to present its own system and how it evolved over the years. The other member states through the group works and the discussions also shared their national experiences, challenges and needs in that context. This is the first workshop of this nature organized within DPPI SEE and the recommendation from the training audience was that a follow up should be organized and exchange on the topic to be continued.

The 3rd and the final Planning conference for DPPI FLEX 2023 was completed. Over 50 participants from all member states continued working on the Exercise Instructions and the actual design of the exercise. We had the chance to review the current state of the nominated teams from the member states and the capacities that they will bring in Brcko during 23-27 October. During the 2^nd day of the conference the capacities of the member states for triggering the UCPM upon a request from assistance sent from Bosnia and Herzegovina were tested through a carefully design TTX. Now as the planning process is slowly closing we are starting with the implementation phase of the exercise arranging all the necessary logistics behind the arrival of the international teams. DPPI FLEX 2023 will be a simulation exercise focusing on testing the regional response to a flood scenario happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The objective is to improve host nation support procedures and test specific response capabilities like drones, camp management and logistics.

Presentations

• Turkyie
• Sphere in Practice
• SEM International assistance , DPPI SEE, September 2023
• PREZENTARE TEHNICA - DPPI FLEX 2023
• PREZENTARE ASISTENȚĂ INTERNAȚIONALĂ - RO
• PPT presentation floods_International - DPPI Presentation
• NICS DPPI FLEX FPC 20.9.2023
• International CP Operations 09.2023
• International Assistance w_p-r EXPERIENCE
• HNS - Albania-2019-November 26 - Earthquake
• HNS  in Montenegro
• Drone operations during emergencies  disasters V2
• DPPI FLEX 2023_planning
• DPPI FLEX 2023 - KAPACITETI BiH
• DPDHL_GoHelp Program_DPPI 2023
• BiH HNS Presentations DPPI SEE

In the context of the preparations for DPPI FLEX 2023 simulation exercise in October a training on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles was organized in Jastrebarsko, Croatia from 01-03 July 2023. The training was aimed for the participants to the exercise and captured both theoretical and practical segments of drone operations. This training was supported by the Civil Protection Directorate of Republic of Croatia in cooperation with lecturers and instructors from the Maritime Faculty in Rijeka, the Faculty of Organization and Informatics in Varaždin, the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency and the Croatian Air Navigation Control. Total number of 27 participants attended this training in Croatia.

The planning process for DPPI FLEX 2023 continued with the 2nd Planning conference that was held in Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina from 20-21 June 2023. Prior the conference and as part of the preparation process two trainings were completed (Sphere in Urban Settings and Get Airports Ready for Disasters) and one is scheduled for July (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The conference was used to refine the exercise structure and the scenario and also visit the exercise locations. DPPI FLEX 2023 will be a simulation exercise designed around flood response operations by testing capabilities of domestic and international drone teams with additional tasks regarding camp management and logistics operations. The 3rd and Final planning conference is scheduled for 19-20 September again in Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Get Airports Ready for Disaster’ (GARD) is a public-private partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Deutsche Post DHL (DP DHL) to prepare airports as logistics hubs in the event of disaster, The three-day event of the internationally recognized training program Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD Plus) was concluded yesterday in Sarajevo. The aim of the program is to strengthen resilience to disasters caused by natural hazards (floods, earthquakes, fires and landslides), in which airports play a critical role in channeling humanitarian teams and relief goods quickly to people and communities in need. The GARD program was conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time in 2018. The kick-off phase of the program was presented by the Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) together with Sarajevo International Airport, the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as humanitarian response experts.

GARD Plus is a follow up measure initiated by Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe (DPPI-SEE) and the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is an opportunity for the country and Sarajevo International Airport to conduct a review of the original recommendations from local participants, and for all to prepare for the simulation exercise called DPPI-FLEX at the end of 2023. Bosnia and Herzegovina is vulnerable to natural and climate related hazards such as floods, landslides, earthquakes or wildfires. Recently heavy rainfall has battered parts of the country. In 2014, the flood that impacted parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina caused heavy destruction. Sarajevo Airport played a key role in flying in relief supplies from abroad.

"The Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina considers that the prevention and reduction of the risk of disasters is one of the key issues of the security of the country and the region. This is confirmed by the floods, fires, and earthquakes that Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries in the world are exposed to. By joining the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of the European concept of the protection and rescue system, which provides new inputs and obliges us to develop the system in accordance with the standards and procedures applied in the EU countries,” said Samir Agić, Assistant Minister of Protection and Rescue Sector, Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“During times of emergency and disaster airports are key to ensuring emergency aid is received in a timely manner and we are pleased to be able to partner with DPPI-SEE and Sarajevo Airport to deliver this workshop and share our knowledge and experiences with the national Disaster Management Experts,” said Kim Melville, Vice President of Humanitarian Affairs for Deutsche Post DHL Group.  

“The unprecedented complexity, severity, and scale of the risks and crises we now face calls for enhanced preparedness to minimize the risk of disaster and save lives,” said Stanislav Kim, UNDP Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor for ECIS. “Building the capacities of airports and all institutions involved to act quickly and effectively respond to crises not only benefits the communities they serve, but allows countries to continue along their paths towards resilient and sustainable development, undeterred by crisis.”

Over 25 participating officials and experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as disaster management specialists from member states of DPPI-SEE in Southeast Europe, joined the GARD Plus workshop led by Deutsche Post DHL Group and UNDP experts. During the program, participants were guided by trainers to conduct a self-assessment of the progress since 2018 at the Airport and update specific recommendations to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina is kept up to date and well-prepared for any potential disasters. The disaster management specialists will also take these lessons learnt and apply them to a real-life scenario in a regional simulation exercise that will be conducted at the end of 2023.

“Sarajevo International Airport is recognized and defined at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a point of departure and arrival point when it comes to major crisis situations,” said Zoran Dragičević, Director of the Security Sector at Sarajevo International Airport. “Adequate and, above all, professional response to this obligation and privilege requires, first of all, reliable personnel and material and technical potential. We can very responsibly point out that we are ready to respond at any time to the demands that are in front of us, because we are sure that our decades of experience, which is woven into various action plans in crisis situations, will be accompanied by a motivational factor for our airport employees. The expansion of our capacities in the infrastructural context gives us additional assurance that we will not disappoint the expectations brought by possible crisis situations, we are ready to tackle any situation and justify the trust that has been placed in us as a company.”

“Airport preparedness plays key segment in all possible major disasters that could affect Bosnia and Herzegovina. In that context it’s crucial to prepare for and test the process behind requesting, sending and absorbing international assistance. The specificity of this particular workshop is that it has been followed by other DPPI SEE member states as well who have sent their representatives to Sarajevo. With that we are creating preconditions for replication of the workshop to other airports in the region of South East Europe in the years to follow,” expressed Vlatko Jovanovski, Head of the Secretariat, DPPI-SEE.