The Centre for development of the South-East planning Region in the frame of the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting”, on 26th and 27th of November 2021, organized a two-day workshop to establish an informal network between stakeholders from the two cross border regions in order to create good coordination and structure for prevention and adequate response to natural and environmental hazards, with special emphasis and focus on forest fires.
Besides representatives from the Centre, as organizers of the event, the workshop was attended by representatives of the Project Lead Partner – Association of Southwestern Municipalities, Blagoevgrad – Republic of Bulgaria, representatives of municipalities, municipal territorial firefighting units and volunteer associations from both countries, representatives of regional Crisis Management Centres, representatives of the regional offices of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, as well as all stakeholders in preventing and mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, environmental hazards and human factor caused disasters.
The workshop was successfully conducted and all participants contributed with their presentations and discussions. As part of the workshop, a framework for the functioning of the informal network was prepared, as well as a draft Memorandum of Cooperation which will be sent to all participants and stakeholders for additional comments and finalization before it is finally signed at the Final Conference of the project.
“Creating good coordination and structure for prevention of the forest fires, but also timely response is essential in implementing this partnership. This is what makes our job easier, quick contacts and efficient data collection. They provide us with their information, we give our data regarding the type of the burning material, the surface, the weather conditions in our country, the weather conditions in their country so that a joint action could be implemented”, said Mr. Mitko Dimchev – Inspector in the Directorate for protection and rescue (regional unit Strumica).
The network is informal and in the future will serve as a basis for better coordination between the competent structures in both countries. Although the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria already have several international agreements in the field of civil protection, this network will facilitate cooperation primarily between local and regional institutions.
“The establishment of this network will in big extent facilitate the communication between the colleagues from our country and the Republic of Bulgaria for joint and coordinated performance on the field”, said Alexander Gudev – Commander of Territorial Firefighting Unit Strumica.
The participants in the workshop shared many positive experiences that should guide the institutions in the future, but also shared real problems that need to be addressed together.
This project is co-funded by the European Union and by National Funds of the Participating Countries under the IPA Cross – Border Programme
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