NEWS: Strengthening Environmental Security in the Adriatic-Ionian Region

On 16 February 2026, the Faculty of Security – Skopje (UKLO) hosted the Round Table and Info Day “Strengthening Environmental Security in the Adriatic-Ionian Region: Operationalizing Project PREVENT and Institutional Cooperation.”

The event gathered 30 representatives from academia, national institutions, policy bodies, and international partners to discuss how PREVENT – Pollution Reduction and Early-warning for Vulnerable Ecosystems in Adriatic-Ionian Territories contributes to the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme, the EUSAIR Strategy, and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

Key Highlights

  • Presentation of PREVENT’s objectives and its role in strengthening environmental security in the region.

  • Introduction of the AIMLIN Network and interactive database as tools for pollution monitoring and early warning.

  • Completion of Work Package 1, including network establishment, in-situ monitoring, and development of the database.

  • Round Table discussion with national authorities (State Environmental Inspectorate, Hydrometeorological Service, Hydrobiological Institute – Ohrid) on moving from reactive to proactive, risk-based environmental protection.

Academic experts also shared research on the social impact of environmental degradation and risk assessment methodologies, reinforcing the link between science, security, and policy

Main Outcome

The event strengthened institutional cooperation and confirmed the AIMLIN Network as a sustainable platform for transforming scientific data into operational tools for environmental protection in the Adriatic-Ionian region.

Environmental security remains a shared regional priority and PREVENT continues to build the digital and institutional foundations to support it.