Statement of the Workshop
on the Establishment of a WIS-DCPC / WIGOS
Marine Meteorological Centre as a Sub-Regional Facility for the Adriatic Sea Area
Zagreb, Croatia, May 17-18, 2012

Noting:

• The WMO Strategic Plan and the RA VI Operating Plan (2012-2015) putting highest priority on the implementation of WIS and WIGOS by RA VI Members;
• The need for Members to apply the WMO Strategies for Service Delivery and Capacity Development;
• The coordination effort undertaken since 2006 in the South-East Europe to enhance the collaboration between the NMHSs in the provision of core services required by the mandate given by their respective governments;
• The need to enhance the cooperation and collaboration at national and sub-regional level with different stakeholders (service providers, research institutions, regulators);
• The steps undertaken for the establishment in Croatia of a WMO Information system (WIS) Data Collection or Processing Centre (DCPC), as a WIS component of a Sub-Regional Marine Meteorological Centre, as well as the plan for a DCPC on Mediterranean area by Italy, with the aim that these centers would be ready for approval by WMO by the end of 2013;
• The agreement of WMO Congress-XVI (Cg-XVI) on the registration of the Croatia WIS DCPC with specialization on marine services and its advanced stage of implementation.

Further noting:

• The Decision by Cg-XVI to implement the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) and the on-going emergence of WIGOS standards, guidance and regulatory material and related Cg-XVI decisions on Marine Meteorological and Oceanography Programme (MMOP);
• The Workshop’s review of the current status and the contribution the proposed WIS-DCPC/WIGOS Centre would make to enhancing marine services delivery in the Adriatic Sea sub-region;
• The review of existing practices and contributions of all the Members in sub-region to marine services delivery;
• The importance of Regional Marine Instrumentation Centre (RMIC) functionality similar the Regional Instrument Center (RIC) already established;
• The presented needs and opportunities for provision of marine services going beyond the current minimum level of routinely provided services which could be achieved through joining the effort of the different service providers in the sub-region in consultation with the users.

The participants give their support to the launching of a Sub-regional Collaboration Initiative for the Enhancement of the Marine Services in the Adriatic Sea Area (Zagreb Initiative) and agree to the following steps forward:

• To establish an Expert Team composed by experts nominated by the Permanent Representatives with WMO of the countries in the sub-region to conduct the follow-up activities, as follows:
  • Following the principles of the WMO Rolling Review of requirements (RRR) to conduct a comprehensive survey of:
    • existing and required marine meteorology services;
    • existing and planned observing networks and identify critical gaps;
    • legislative arrangements, partners and users;
  • Based on the survey results, prepare the sub-regional “panorama” of marine services.
  • Develop a Concept Document containing an architectural vision for marine services provision in the sub-region.
  • Develop a roadmap and action plan as appropriate to implement the functionality as described in the Concept Document.
  • Study related initiatives and project of the European Commission and identify synergies and opportunities for participation of the Members of the Initiative in relevant activities with potential for funding.

The participants further agreed:

• To accept the offer of Croatia, as the implementer of the WIS-DCPC / (and future WIGOS Center), to coordinate the agreed activities of the Zagreb Initiative and provide a Project Manager.
• That the Expert Team established for this work will address the relationship of the various marine services already operational or planned to be implemented with a view to helping Members strengthen their capabilities.
• That the Concept Document and the consequent roadmap will also consider the relationships with the future WIS-DCPC specialized for marine meteorology and oceanography over Mediterranean Sea operated by the Italian Meteorological Service. In this perspective the WIS-DCPC/WIGOS Marine Meteorological Centre for Adriatic Sea implemented by Croatia will act as key-enabler in particular:
  • feeding the future WIS-DCPC Mediterranean Centre in terms of catalogues and DAR functionality (integration);
  • providing marine services also through the future WIS-DCPC Mediterranean Centre, former RTH Rome (interoperability).
• The Team will prepare recommendations as needed to be further considered by the Informal Conference of the South-East European Directors (ICSEED).

The participants invited support to the initiatives of this Workshop expressed in this Statement from:

• The WMO Secretariat, in particular from the Observing and Information Systems Department (OBS), the Weather and Disaster Risk Reduction Services Department (WDS), and the Development and Regional Activities Department (DRA);
• The Technical Commissions: CBS, CIMO and JCOMM;
• Regional Association VI with its Working Groups on Technology Development and Implementation (TDI) and Service Delivery and Partnership (SDP).

The participants expressed the thanks for the support provided so far by the above bodies.

ACTIONS AGREED:

1. Letter from the PR of Croatia to the PRs of participating countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Italy and Greece, to nominate experts on the Expert Group.
   Note: TORs of the Expert Team to be prepared with support from WMO Secretariat
2. Invitation to the partnership institutions in Croatia.
3. Letter to WMO Secretary-General informing of the outcome of the Workshop and requesting support by WMO Secretariat.
4. Letter to the Presidents of CBS, CIMO and JCOMM.
5. Nominations of experts by the partner countries and institutions to be collected by 30 June 2012.
6. Expert Team Meeting – September/October 2012 (tentatively in Croatia).
7. Report to the ICSEED meeting in Skopje – October 2012.

Further actions will be defined in accordance with the work programme adopted by the Expert Team.

[ Statement of the Workshop in . ]