​The second meeting of the Emergency, Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group (EPPR WG) was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 6 to 8 December. Participants included sixty-one representatives of the eight Arctic Council members (Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden and United States of America), three observers (Italy, Singapore and South Korea) and four guests in representation of IALA, University of the Arctic, WWF and Bonn Agreement.

This Arctic Council working group addresses and debates a variety of aspects related to prevention, preparedness and response to environmental emergencies in the Arctic, as well as search and rescue (SAR). Italy's representative was Commander Paolo Dei, Italian Navy Hydrography Officer.

The challenge of global warming urges an immediate response from the international community, in close coordination with the Arctic States. The most important dialogue forum on this issue so far, concerning the Arctic region, is the Arctic Council.

In particular, the working group members exchange information and best practices and carry out projects aimed at developing specific guidelines, methods for risk evaluation, and practical exercises for personnel training, with the purpose of contributing to the protection of the Arctic environment against the threat or impact that may result from an accidental release of pollutants, including radionuclides.

Italy considers the Arctic Council, with its wide range of members, as the main debate forum for the Arctic, where the different features and issues of this complicated region and all viable forms of cooperation can be discussed.

All details related to Italy's Strategy for the Arctic can be found in the document issued by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.