From 25 to 28 June 2025, the CROSSFLOOD consortium held its Initial Planning Conference (IPC) in Suceava, Romania, laying the foundation for the upcoming Full-Scale Exercise (FSX) in September 2026. The project strengthens civil protection organisations, Union Civil Protection Mechanism modules and ORCs on operating their mission set in a post-conflict environment hit by floods.
During the conference, participants from Romania, Ukraine, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and the project's supporting partners reviewed the exercise objectives, scenario design, and operational planning framework. Key activities included presentations on national civil protection systems, flood risk management, and available capabilities for flood response, high-capacity pumping, CBRN detection, demining, and logistics. Emphasis was placed on cross-border coordination, UCPM activation procedures, and integration with Host Nation Support structures.
A comprehensive field study visit enabled on-site assessment of training locations, border crossings, industrial and CBRN-relevant sites, and the rescEU stockpile hub. This allowed the consortium to refine the FSX scenario, validate operational feasibility, and coordinate logistics for cross-border response.
The conference concluded with clear next steps for scenario finalization, module designation, and preparation for tabletop exercises and the FSX. Overall, the event reinforced multinational collaboration, operational readiness, and structured planning, ensuring Europe’s civil protection actors are prepared for complex emergencies under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
