Regional countries need to enhance their hydrometeorological services by investing in technical equipment, human resources, and data accessibility, according to assessments made during recent meetings in Belgrade.

Director Dušica Brnović led a delegation from the Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology (ZHMS) at the Informal Conference of Directors of Hydrometeorological Institutes of Southeast Europe (ICSEED) and the Council of the Consortium for Operational Weather Forecasts in Southeast Europe (SEECOP).

The meeting was organized by the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, as announced by the ZHMS.

Representatives from Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, Slovenia, Cyprus, Greece, and Romania participated in the meeting.

Participants from Ukraine, the World Meteorological Organization, and various European meteorological institutions joined via an online platform, according to the ZHMS.

“These meetings provided a valuable opportunity to exchange information on current regional and European projects and initiatives, enhance institutional cooperation, build capacities, and share expert knowledge and experiences,” the statement noted.

During the meeting, Brnović outlined the Institute’s activities since the last ICSEED gathering, while Angel Marčev, Head of the Numerical Modeling Department, provided an online presentation about numerical modeling as part of SEECOP.

While in Belgrade, the Institute’s delegation visited the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute of Serbia and the Climate Center. There, Tanja Mirković, Head of the Department for Weather Analysis and Forecasting, and Aleksandar Zečević, Coordinator of the Meteorology and Air Quality Sector, exchanged experiences and learned about the operations of these services.

The Institute reported that several recommendations for future actions were made, emphasizing the need for ongoing knowledge and experience exchange among hydrometeorological services within the WMO RA VI region.

One suggestion involved exploring funding opportunities for future annual ICSEED and SEECOP gatherings, addressing the financial challenges faced this year.

Another recommendation urged for strengthened institutional capacities, particularly regarding technical equipment, human resources, and data access, along with continued evaluations of training requirements in the region based on identified priorities.

Additionally, the recommendation highlighted ensuring active involvement in the WMO “Monitoring Data Collection Campaign 2025” and focusing on systematic education and professional development to tackle contemporary challenges with innovative solutions.

Lastly, the Institute mentioned considering the updating or possible modification of nominees for key WMO initiatives, including WIGOS, OSCAR/Surface, and WDQMS.

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