Last week, the Port of Civitavecchia served as the venue for a large-scale European exercise under the EUCCS project, designed to test and enhance cross-border coordination among security and emergency response agencies in realistic operational scenarios. The pilot trial concluded successfully thanks to the efforts and collaboration of all participants.

More than 100 representatives took part in the exercise, including frontline responders, maritime and aerial units, operational procedure teams, national testbed groups, observers, and international VIPs. Special appreciation is extended to the Italian authorities for their exceptional support and leadership—among them the Ministry of the Interior, Port Authority of Civitavecchia, Guardia Costiera, Guardia di Finanza, Carabinieri (with special recognition to Sergio Santon), Vigili del Fuoco, and Polizia di Frontiera.

The event also welcomed delegations from the European Commission, NKOM, the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection, BDBOS, the Police Netherlands Control Room Agency, Europol, Frontex, and the Polizia di Stato.

The primary scenario involved the interception of a vessel engaged in migrant smuggling, accompanied by additional emergency simulations including road traffic accidents, hazardous materials incidents, and medical crises. The exercise tested multi-agency coordination across land, sea, and air operations, supported by three control rooms to simulate cross-border communication and decision-making.

This initiative demonstrated the strength of European cooperation, showcasing operational excellence, knowledge exchange, and unified crisis response capabilities.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants for their commitment, professionalism, and teamwork. Planning is already underway for the next EUCCS trial in 2026, and we look forward to advancing these critical capabilities together.