International Symposium on Flood Risk Management and Project Closing Event Held in Edirne

The International Symposium on Flood Risk Management, held in conjunction with the closing event of the “Technical Assistance to Prepare Flood Risk Management Plan for the Meriç-Ergene River Basin (FLOODMERG)” Project, co-financed by the European Union and the Republic of Türkiye within the scope of Environment and Climate Action Sector Operational Program (IPA-2), took place on June 20–21, 2025 in Edirne, Türkiye.  With the participation of approximately 200 representatives, the event provided a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences on a wide range of important topics, including flood risk assessment, climate change impacts, nature-based solutions, early warning systems, regulatory frameworks, and transboundary cooperation.

Following the opening speeches delivered by Ms. Afire Sever, Director General of Water Management, Ambassador Dimitrios Rallis, Deputy Secretary General of Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), Ms. Elif Ceyda Torcu Özden, Sector Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye and Ms. Zeynep Tonga, Project Director, presentations were delivered by representatives of the General Directorate of Water Management, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, and the project’s technical team, addressing the implementation procedures and long-term significance of the outcomes and deliverables achieved through the successful completion of the project. Additionally, the Flood Risk Management Plan prepared for the Meriç-Ergene Basin was introduced to the public, marking a significant step forward at the regional scale.

The symposium, which hosted 21 presentations across six sessions, brought together renowned experts, policymakers, academics, and practitioners, as well as institutional representatives and technical experts from Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, North Macedonia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Technical experts from various EU member states shared best practices and experiences from their national flood management efforts through their presentations.

Emphasizing once again the importance of international solidarity for a more resilient future against floods, the symposium concluded with evaluation panels held at the end of the sessions, followed by closing remarks.