PPRD Med project held its 1st Steering Committee meeting in Barcelona on 17 October 2023. The meeting marked a pivotal moment in advancing the goals of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the PPRD Med program.

John Paul Grech, DSG Social and Civil Affairs, Union for the Mediterranean, highlighted the importance of the role of DG ECHO in these efforts, emphasizing the significance of PPRD Med within the UfM's Civil Protection Dossier and Regional Dialogue Platform.

Tristan Simonart, European Commission DG ECHO, introduced the PPRD Med program to the participants.

Philippe Geffroy, ISTC - International Science and Technology Center - presented the program's focus on leveraging technologies such as AI-powered analytics and algorithms for modeling impacts, risk assessment, and response coordination. The presentation outlined key areas of work, including strengthening civil protection capacities, fostering inter-regional cooperation, and demonstrating early warning systems based on EO (Earth Observation) and AI (Artificial Intelligence). The exchange also covered the potential applications of these technologies in crisis response, including identifying critical infrastructure, flood land cover, and debris mapping.

This gathering reflects a strong commitment to advancing regional cooperation in the field of disaster risk reduction and civil protection in the Mediterranean region. The meeting concluded with the announcement that the 2nd Steering Committee would convene in June 2024 in Noordwijk, Netherlands.

More information: www.pprdmed.eu