Date: 25-26 June 2024
Location: Renaissance Hotel, Brussels
GEMS Representatives:
Dr. Maja Hlilovic-Pastuovic (PI), Trinity College Dublin
Mr. Bledar Feta, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)
The 2024 Projects to Policy Seminar, organised by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) and the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), was successfully held on June 25-26, 2024, at the Renaissance Hotel in Brussels. This annual event invites coordinators of newly launched civil security research projects to engage with policy makers and discuss the strategic directions of their initiatives. The seminar provided an excellent platform for GEMS and other projects to present their work, exchange insights, and align their research outputs with policy needs. The interaction with policy makers and other stakeholders was constructive, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in shaping effective and evidence-based security policies.
The seminar commenced with a plenary session featuring several presentations of general interest, followed by thematic breakout sessions. Participants were divided into groups based on the following thematic areas: Fighting Crime and Terrorism & Critical Infrastructure (FCT/INFRA); Strengthened Security Research and Innovation (SSRI); Disaster-Resilient Societies (DRS); Border Management (BM).
Objectives of the Seminar:
Raise awareness among the relevant policy Directorates-General on the newly launched projects.
Provide guidance to the new projects regarding policy-related outputs of interest to the policy Directorates-General.
Foster a common understanding among project representatives on the significance of policy deliverables and their potential impact on EU regulations and recommendations.
The breakout sessions aimed to: Build awareness of Commission Policy Units on the potential evidence-based inputs from projects; Clarify the role and use of policy deliverables by Commission Policy Units; Encourage clear and accessible presentations tailored to a largely non-technical audience.
GEMS representatives, Dr. Maja Hlilovic-Pastuovic and Mr. Bledar Feta, participated actively, presenting the project's objectives, expected capabilities, and potential policy impacts. They highlighted the scenarios addressed by GEMS, including organized crime and terrorism, and discussed the technological advancements and practical trials planned.
Special thanks are extended to the organisers, REA and DG HOME, and all participants for their active engagement and contributions.
A small gallery of the event is below. Photos provided by Mr. Bledar Feta of ELIAMEP.
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