“The EU candidate countries work really hard, they are competent, but the experience of the partner institutions in the EU member states is invaluable”. When transnational networks help European integration and the environment. An interview

In the process of European integration of the Western Balkans, many groups, associations and institutions are involved at various levels, thanks also to specific European programs. This is the case, for example, of the Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Montenegro, part of the project ADRION HarmoNIA  . Can participation in EU-funded projects substantially facilitate the creation of transnational ties that have a positive impact on the European integration process? We talked about this with Danijela Joksimović, from the University of Montenegro.

What does the ADRION HarmoNIA project consist of? 

The project HarmoNIA – Harmonization and Networking for contaminant assessment in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas – was approved in the framework of the Adriatic-Ionian Programme (ADRION). The project is implemented by a multidisciplinary team that includes research institutes and regional authorities from six countries (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece) that access the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The main partner is the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS) in Trieste.

The main objective of the project is to strengthen transnational frameworks for better interoperability of existing marine management databases in order to promote data availability and improve knowledge of the marine ecosystem. This provides a good basis for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the UNEP/MAP Protocol in the Adriatic-Ionian Region.

How did you contribute to the adoption and implementation of EU marine directives in Montenegro?

The importance of this project is particularly evident in the phase of transposition of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) into national legislation and the launch of the hydrocarbon exploration and production program in our sea. By participating in the project, HarmoNIA intends to address the heterogeneity of methodological approaches and information used to assess the good environmental status (GES) and overcome the problem of fragmentation in terms of geographical coverage of available data. Montenegro has completed a good environmental assessment (GES) in the last period, and is currently in the process of accepting a monitoring proposal that will be fully in line with the MSFD.

Can you explain the importance of the project in relation to the hydrocarbon exploration and production program?

In the Adriatic-Ionian region, there are active oil platforms for the exploitation of hydrocarbons in Italian and Croatian waters. In addition, Montenegro, Albania and Greece have also obtained concessions for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons along the coasts.

Drilling cuttings from the exploration phase and produced formation water (PFW) from the production phase are the main sources of contaminants discharged into the sea. One of the objectives of the HarmoNIA project is to develop transactional approaches to assess the impacts of offshore activities, and harmonize environmental impact assessment (EIA), monitoring and decommissioning procedures. Specifically, during the project we described monitoring and decommissioning procedures in four countries (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Montenegro) with the aim of sharing a harmonized approach for the assessment of impacts from offshore platforms in the ADRION region.

The project involved 10 partners from the Adriatic-Ionian region. What is the role of the Institute of Marine Biology?

The institute in partnership with the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro can provide the necessary data for the project on our marine areas, as well as share the experience in the methodological approach to marine research with relevant institutions in the region. We already had excellent relations with the OGS in Trieste and that is how we became part of the consortium. In addition, our institute already had excellent cooperation with the homologous institutes in Slovenia, Croatia and Albania. It is quite normal considering that we share the same Adriatic coast and have similar fields of investigation.

What are the advantages and potential disadvantages of working with regional partners from both EU member states and candidate countries?

One of the most significant advantages of the project is the provision of basic tools to assess the risk of contamination in vulnerable coastal zones, in particular the risk from oil platforms. In this sense, the exchange of good practices and the harmonization of monitoring protocols for a reliable assessment of the environmental status, the support for a coordinated action in case of accidental marine pollution and the definition of a common strategy to assess the risk of dispersion of pollutants, as well as the strengthening of data exchange infrastructures at regional level and facilitating access to and use of marine data, are essential. Among the disadvantages I would only include the lower financial resources available in a large network and the resulting impossibility of recruiting younger associates to work on the project.

How do you rate the collaboration? Were there any difficulties?

The cooperation with all the project partners was very professional, responsible and – if I may add – I would almost call it familiar. Everyone was ready to help at any time. This is evident in the joint publication of several articles and chapters of a monograph we produced.

Can we say that a real transnational working community has been formed?

Yes, of course. This is in my opinion the right way to connect institutions, spread knowledge and practices, improve and create a strong bond for future projects.

Do you think that participation in these projects on environmental protection and the creation of working communities can help to bring stakeholders closer to the issues related to EU accession and facilitate the integration process? In what way?  

I find it very useful and even a privilege to participate in such projects. The EU candidate countries work really hard, they are competent, but the experience of the partner institutions in the EU member states is invaluable. Each EU country that has adopted the MSFD is ready to make things easier for us with concrete examples, so as not to repeat the same mistakes made by them in the past. In this way, we come to new knowledge much more efficiently and easily, as well as to a quicker resolution of any difficulties.