It was wonderful taking part at the 8th European Civil Protection Forum, reconnecting with colleagues and friends. Engaging in enriching discussions & sharing innovative tools

Improving international cooperation in crisis situations, FORMATEX23 shows how crucial the application of disaster relief mechanisms at the international level is. The potential release of hazardous substances in the Danube – Europe’s second longest river – could impact up to ten European countries in a worst-case scenario. By testing the activation and implementation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, different countries had the opportunity to train on how to work together in times of crisis. Conducting such cross-border exercises makes a significant contribution to ensuring that European emergency forces are able to deal with disasters and support the affected populations.

PDEX (Professional Dialogue Exercise), a key project funded by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO) with the aim to strengthen