13 to 17 October 2025 | Pristina, Kosovo
More information
From 13 to 17 October 2025, a European team of experts—supported by the European Commission and the CMCC Foundation—will carry out an on-site mission to Kosovo.
The mission aims to assist local authorities through a Peer Review of the national disaster risk management (DRM) system, providing actionable recommendations to strengthen resilience and enhance disaster preparedness and response capacities.
The authorities of Kosovo requested this Peer Review under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) Peer Review Programme, coordinated by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).
This programme enables EU Member States, UCPM Participating States, eligible third countries, and European Neighbourhood Policy partners to assess and improve their DRM policies and practices.
Through an independent and collaborative review process, it identifies strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement—offering strategic guidance to boost overall effectiveness.
During the mission week, four experts (peers) from Finland, Germany, Spain, and Sweden, selected by the European Commission, will work with the local authorities of Kosovo to support the continuous enhancement of national DRM capacities.
This Peer Review will highlight existing good practices and provide tailored recommendations to further strengthen the governance, prevention, and response components of the disaster risk management system.
The process promotes mutual learning, facilitates the exchange of best practices, and enhances cooperation among key national stakeholders—raising awareness and fostering a shared understanding of DRM challenges and solutions.
CMCC’s role in facilitating the process
This first Peer Review under the new 2025–2029 UCPM Peer Review Programme cycle will focus on disaster risk reduction governance, as well as risk prevention and emergency response phases.
Experts from CMCC’s Risk Assessment and Adaptation Strategies Division—Veronica Casartelli, Dana Salpina, and Angelica Marengo—will serve as facilitators throughout the mission in Pristina, supporting the implementation of the Peer Review.
Their contribution builds on previous CMCC involvement in DRM Peer Reviews conducted during the 2020–2024 UCPM cycle in Romania (2022), Moldova (2023), Greece (2024), Italy (2024), and Land Brandenburg (2025).
CMCC facilitators will assist peer experts in multi-stakeholder meetings involving public authorities, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector, gathering insights on disaster risk management practices in Kosovo.
Based on independent analysis, Peer Reviews are a strategic tool for strengthening resilience against disasters at European, national, and sub-national levels.
Their primary objective is to foster knowledge exchange and mutual learning through expert-led assessments conducted within the UCPM network.
The process will culminate in a comprehensive final report, to be presented to the authorities of Kosovo in spring 2026.
Additional links:
https://civil-protection-knowledge-network.europa.eu/disaster-prevention-and-risk-management/ucpm-peer-review-programme
https://www.cmcc.it/projects/peers-2-ucpm-peer-review-programme-of-disaster-risk-management-and-civil-protection-system
This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.