The South-Eastern Alps region is characterised by a relatively high seismic risk. Over the centuries, this cross-border area, shared by North-Eastern Italy (Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Trentino - Alto Adige Regions), Austria (Tyrol, Carinthia) and Slovenia, was affected by severe and destructive earthquakes. These events highlighted the need for a closer collaboration between the nearby governmental and scientific institutions. In 2001, the first agreement on seismic data exchange was signed by four key research institutes operating in this cross-border area. Since then, the cooperation and collaboration between the three countries evolved and led to the adoption of several good practices that could serve as inspiration to other transboundary territories exposed to seismic risk.

In most cases, these achievements were the result of European-funded projects involving the scientific community and civil protection authorities of the three bordering countries. 

The project Trans-National Seismological Networks in the South-Eastern Alps represents a milestone in the history of cooperation between Italy, Austria, and Slovenia and can be considered as the turning point for the seismic risk management in this area. The project was carried out within the INTERREG III Italy-Austria 2000-2006, with the aim of improving the seismic monitoring system in the cross-border area by integrating and connecting the networks belonging to the three countries. It also aimed to strengthen data sharing and establish procedures for real-time data exchange in the aftermath of an earthquake. 

The Real-time accelerometric monitoring network of sites and buildings in Italy and Austria INTERREG project (ARMONIA, 2019-2021) further strengthened the cross-border cooperation between the civil protection authorities of Italy and Austria on seismic risk management. The project implemented a seismic monitoring system and drafted common protocols/standard operating procedures (SOPs) for rapid post-disaster impact assessments. The developed Atlas is an efficient tool that elaborates seismological data in near-real time and provides maps useful for civil protection purposes. 

With regard to the Italian-Slovenian border, the enhancement of cross-border institutional and governance capacities was addressed in the Cross-border cooperation between Slovenia and Italy for a safer region INTERREG project (CROSSIT SAFER, 2019-2022), focused on seismic risks and other natural hazards, such as wildfires. The signature of the Agreement on the exchange of mutual assistance in case of emergencies by all parties involved in the project - namely the scientific partners and public administrations of the two countries - legally formalised the results achieved. 

Other inspiring results are those recently accomplished by the UCPM project Cross-border risk assessment for increased prevention and preparedness in Europe (BORIS, 2021-2022), which developed harmonised cross-border approaches for assessing the multiple risks posed by the seismic - and hydro-meteorological - hazard in the cross-border area of Italy, Austria, and Slovenia. Boris also developed a platform aimed at facilitating the visualisation of the results achieved in the project. The platform also allows for storage of data, models and documents. 

To date, the cross-border cooperation between Italy, Austria, and Slovenia in seismic risk management has become a successful reality that is constantly growing and improving. In 2014, the connection between the Italian, Austrian and Slovenian seismological networks was formalised through the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding named “Central and East European Earthquake Research Network'' (CE3RN or CE3R Network), which currently involves other countries and has become an excellent example of transnational cooperation. Besides the exchange of seismological data, this initiative also enabled the consolidation of strong collaborative relationships among both the scientific communities and civil protection authorities, which was highlighted as an achievement of outstanding importance by a number of the interviewed experts involved in the above-mentioned projects.