KOMOAL-PREP held its first Stakeholder Validation Workshop on 12–13 October 2026 in Tirana, bringing together partners, civil protection authorities and 12 municipalities from Kosovo*, Montenegro and Albania. Participants reviewed wildfire risks and hotspots and conducted an Early Warning–Early Action simulation, contributing to cross-border communication protocols and joint response planning.
13 October 2026 | Tirana, Albania
The KOMOAL-PREP project held its first Stakeholder Validation Workshop on 12–13 October 2026 in Tirana, Albania, bringing together consortium partners, national civil protection authorities and representatives of 12 partner municipalities from Kosovo*, Montenegro and Albania.
The workshop provided an opportunity to combine technical expertise with local knowledge and experience in addressing shared wildfire risks across the three neighbouring countries.
During the first day, participants reviewed the Cross-Border Wildfire Risk Assessment methodology and discussed its findings, including identified wildfire hotspots. Municipal representatives contributed their perspectives on local risks, existing capacities and challenges related to wildfire prevention, preparedness and response.
The workshop also introduced the Municipal Questionnaire on Wildfire Disaster Risk Management Capacities and Cooperation, supporting the collection of local-level information for the project's subsequent activities.
On the second day, participants engaged in an Early Warning–Early Action simulation exercise, exploring the exchange of warning information, coordination arrangements and early actions in a cross-border wildfire scenario.
The exercise and subsequent discussions provided input for the further development of cross-border early warning Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), communication protocols and a Joint Trilateral Response Plan.
An important feature of the workshop was the participation, for the first time within KOMOAL-PREP, of representatives from all 12 partner municipalities. Their involvement helps connect the project's technical work with the practical needs and experiences of local authorities, while encouraging cooperation among municipalities facing similar wildfire risks across national borders.
The workshop represents an important step in KOMOAL-PREP's efforts to strengthen shared risk understanding, improve preparedness and support coordinated cross-border action.
About KOMOAL-PREP
KOMOAL-PREP (Preparedness and Prevention for Cross-Border Wildfire Resilience in Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania*) aims to strengthen wildfire risk management, early warning and early action, institutional coordination and community resilience across the cross-border region.
The project brings together seven consortium partners:
KOMOAL-PREP is co-funded by the European Union under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), through the Knowledge for Action in Prevention and Preparedness (KAPP) programme.
Kosovo designation: This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.