On February 5-6, 2025, leading experts, policymakers, and researchers gathered at the Brdo Congress Centre for the Technical Conference on Fostering Regional Drought Resilience in South-Eastern Europe. The event focused on enhancing regional collaboration to improve drought monitoring, risk assessment, and proactive management strategies.
The conference opened with a keynote speech by Andreja Sušnik from the Slovenian Environment Agency, followed by a high-level panel discussion featuring representatives from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the World Meteorological Organization, and the European Environment Agency. Discussions emphasized the importance of shared policies, advanced monitoring platforms, and sustainable resource management.
Day two featured sessions on drought monitoring, impact assessments, and risk management, with experts from Romania, Croatia, Greece, and Serbia sharing insights on cross-border cooperation. A panel on proactive drought management highlighted steps for improving preparedness in the region, with contributions from Slovenian government officials, academic institutions, and international organizations.
The conference concluded with key takeaways for strengthening regional resilience and fostering long-term strategies to mitigate drought impacts. The event underscored the urgency of coordinated action in addressing climate challenges across South-Eastern Europe.
During the conference, the A-DROP project was also presented by Rozalija Cvejić from the University of Ljubljana, showcasing its innovative approach to enhancing water resource management and climate resilience in Alpine regions through transnational cooperation and sustainable adaptation strategies. Panel on Advancing Proactive Drought Management was dedicated to discussing optimising soil-moisture monitoring tools, methods and approaches to better support community preparedness to droughts.
