PPRD East 4 launched with the Kick-off Meeting in Rome

From prevention to response, risk management is measured by the ability to turn objectives and procedures into coordinated action. It is within this context that the Kick-off Meeting of the European Union-funded programme Prevention, Preparedness and Response to natural and human-induced disasters in the Eastern Partnership countries - Phase 4 (PPRD East 4) opened yesterday in Rome.

The project aims to strengthen prevention, preparedness and response to natural and human-induced disasters in the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia¹, Moldova, Ukraine), promoting regional cooperation and the gradual alignment with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).

As highlighted by Marco Rusconi, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, "there is a growing need to move beyond the linear sequence of emergency, recovery and development, towards an integrated and adaptive vision, in which the nexus between humanitarian aid and civil protection becomes a strategic dimension".

The project: from reference frameworks to implementation

PPRD East 4 represents the final phase of the programme launched in 2010 and marks a decisive shift: from the definition of institutional frameworks to implementation at territorial level. Building on the strong results achieved in the third phase, the programme will ensure the consolidation of operational tools to support risk management, strengthened early warning systems, and multi-hazard and inclusive emergency plans.

This trajectory also clearly reflects the consortium's long-term commitment. "CIMA has been part of this journey since the first phase, and it is an honour to lead the consortium in the final phase," said Luca Ferraris, President of CIMA Research Foundation. "The strategic direction is clear: strengthening national disaster risk management systems while maintaining practical cooperation with the Union through the UCPM".

"The programme is essential to support the integration of preparedness for emergencies and crises, acting as a bridge between humanitarian aid and national emergency management. It is also an important opportunity to take a broad look at the concept of 'vulnerability'," emphasised Luca Aragone, Vice President of the Italian Relief Corps of the Order of Malta, in his opening remarks.

At the core lies an approach designed for sustainability and replicability. The training pathways will be developed following a Training of Trainers (ToT) model, including command post exercises (TTX/CPX) and Full-Scale Exercises (FSX), engaging all stakeholders of the national civil protection systems, including hydrometeorological institutions, research bodies and structured volunteer organisations.

"I particularly appreciate the fact that the programme also pays attention to cross-cutting priorities such as climate change and the environment, gender equality and vulnerable groups," highlighted Adrián Mifkovič, President of the Fire Rescue Corps of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic. "These are essential elements today and part of modern systems that enable us to anticipate disaster risks".

In this perspective, Phase 4 is not only continuity, but evolution. "This final phase is an opportunity to transform results and methodologies into lasting capacities. We will work on strengthening the nexus between civil protection systems and humanitarian action by integrating them into the early warning and risk analysis systems developed together with our partners, while enhancing cross-border cooperation and alignment with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism," underlined Davide Miozzo, DRM expert at Fondazione CIMA and Team Leader of PPRD East 4.

Two kick-off days: objectives, governance and the first operational milestones

The official PPRD East 4 Kick-off Meeting took place in Rome on 22 January 2026, followed by a visit by the delegations to the Italian Civil Protection Department and by the first Steering Committee on 23 January.

The first day was dedicated to the institutional opening and the presentation of the programme: objectives, structure, work packages and implementation roadmap, through direct dialogue with partner countries to share priorities and expectations. This launch holds particular relevance in the current regional context, marked by rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics.

"This new geopolitical context calls for a change in the European Union's approach to the Black Sea region," recalled Corinne Deleu, Programme Manager at the DG's Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (ENEST), referring to the new European strategy built around three pillars: security, connectivity and prosperity, and a dedicated axis on climate action and preparedness, with specific attention to coastal communities and blue economy sectors.

The second day continued with an operational exchange and coordination session aimed at consolidating programme governance and institutional relations. In particular, the project framework reaffirms the centrality of cross-border cooperation and interoperability between systems, in a region exposed to increasingly complex and interconnected risks.

"Disasters have no borders," stated Katarzyna Marzec, DG ENEST, stressing that collaboration between countries and coordination among institutions are crucial to effectively prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters. At this stage, she added, the focus will be explicitly placed on sustainability and national ownership, so that tools and capacities remain active well beyond the programme's conclusion.

This objective was also reiterated by Paule Gailiunaite, Programme Manager of PPRD East 4 at DG's European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, who highlighted the programme's role in supporting the path towards integration with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism: "we want to support Ukraine and Moldova, the most recent participating States in the UCPM, and also Armenia and Azerbaijan, bringing them progressively closer to the mechanism". As a regional programme, this work aims to make the ability to activate relationships, channels and shared procedures structural, before an emergency occurs.

A kick-off that is not merely formal: it is the first step of a shared pathway, in which prevention and preparedness become concrete elements of a single strategy, built together.