From June 5 to 8, a major cross-border exercise called GOin4SAFETY will take place, involving civil protection and rescue systems in the Gorizia area, including the municipalities of Gorizia (Italy), Nova Gorica, Šempeter-Vrtojba, and Ajdovščina (Slovenia). The entire territory on both sides of the border will become a unified safety zone for cooperation among institutions, civil protection actors, and citizens.
During a press conference held in Nova Gorica, organizers and partners presented the exercise’s program and goals. GOin4SAFETY is one of the largest joint exercises ever conducted between Italy and Slovenia. More than 500 personnel from civil protection units, police, firefighters, medical responders, and volunteers will respond to simulated emergency scenarios such as a major earthquake, infrastructure damage, missing persons, fires, hazardous materials incidents, and water rescues.
The exercise aims to strengthen responsiveness and coordination between Italian and Slovenian civil protection systems, with participation also from units in Croatia and Germany.
Marko Tribušon, Deputy Mayor of Nova Gorica, emphasized the importance of international cooperation to enhance emergency response and build safer, better-prepared communities. Gorizia’s Mayor Rodolfo Ziberna highlighted the exercise as a prime example of cross-border collaboration to improve resilience and develop an integrated civil protection system.
Milan Turk, Mayor of Šempeter-Vrtojba, pointed out the crucial role of mayors in emergency situations, such as ordering evacuations, and stressed the importance of joint training.
Borut Mihelj, Slovenian exercise coordinator and member of the Nova Gorica Fire Brigade, underlined the importance of earthquake preparedness well before an event occurs — living in earthquake-safe buildings, knowing how to react during a quake, and having adequate insurance coverage.
Salvatore Gambitta, coordinator of Civil Protection in Gorizia, highlighted months of preparatory work and the introduction of experimental models in the exercise.
Samo Kosmač, Commander of Civil Protection for the Slovenian Littoral, noted that this project goes beyond training first responders — it also raises public awareness of the importance of cooperation at regional and international levels.
Chiara Belliazzi, Head of the Gorizia Prefecture’s Cabinet, stressed that “you are never truly prepared for emergencies, so exercises like this are crucial.”
The exercise officially begins on June 5 with the arrival of teams and operational setup at Gorizia’s Duca d’Aosta airport, serving as the logistics and coordination hub.
On June 6 and 7, various scenarios will be simulated across the municipalities, including forest fires, missing persons searches, rescue operations under rubble, and protection of cultural heritage, involving both Italian and Slovenian teams.
GOin4SAFETY is part of the IN4SAFETY project, funded by the Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia 2021–2027 program, with about €61,000 allocated to the exercise, managed by the International Sociology Institute of Gorizia (ISIG) and the Nova Gorica Fire Brigade. Other local, regional, and national authorities, along with Zavarovalnica Triglav, are also involved.
This exercise demonstrates how collaboration among local and international institutions can ensure a safer and more resilient future for all citizens of the cross-border area.
