

The Final Planning Conference for the EU-funded FloodNorth ALB Project was held in Tirana on 14–15 January 2025, gathering key stakeholders to finalize preparations for the upcoming flood risk management exercise. The agenda covered a comprehensive review of progress, exercise planning, and logistical arrangements while fostering collaboration among participants.
The conference began on Tuesday, 14 January, with a registration session followed by opening remarks from Haki Çako and Mariangela Pelliccia, setting the stage for the day’s discussions. A progress review and feedback session, led by Leonard Qyra, representatives from the Ministry of Interior of Montenegro, and Christos Dimopoulos, focused on previous training workshops and the FloodNorthALB Table-Top Exercise. This was followed by updates on the FloodNorthALB scenario and a detailed presentation of the exercise plan by Leonard Qyra and Christian Resch, highlighting the Command Post Exercise, Full Scale Exercise, timeline, and EUCPT involvement.
Afternoon sessions delved into the Full Scale Exercise (FSX) management, with discussions on EXCON staffing and roleplayer coordination led by Andi Pogaçi and Arjan Blaka, and a presentation on the safety and security plan by Euglen Xhengo and Juxhina Sotiri. A logistics session addressed transportation, accommodation, supply, and communication needs, led by Nereida Lalmi, Besmir Kullolli, and Anxhela Pujo. The day concluded with a session on public relations and media roles, presented by Dr. Ilir Aliaj, representative of CDDI, partner on the project, followed by the third steering committee meeting and a social dinner event.
On Wednesday, 15 January, the focus shifted to the observer program, with Martin Lena providing updates on the nomination status and agenda, and Ledjo Hoxha briefing participants on the VIP Day and closing ceremony. Christos Dimopoulos introduced tools for exercise evaluation, ensuring a structured approach to assessing the exercise's success. The conference concluded with a session led by Leonard Qyra, summarizing final conclusions, addressing questions, and outlining the way ahead. Closing remarks by Mariangela Pelliccia and AKMC representatives emphasized the importance of regional collaboration, followed by lunch and participant departures.
The two-day conference provided a robust platform to finalize preparations for the FloodNorth ALB exercise, ensuring all aspects of planning, logistics, and coordination are in place for a successful implementation.
About the author

Managing Complex Floods in North Albania through Cross Border Host Nation Support and Joint Cooperation.