Dr Aleš Jug, Head of the Fire Research and Innovation Section at ZAG and senior researcher in the FRISSBE project, took part in a high-level roundtable discussion titled “Safety First: A Conversation on Fire Protection Laws” at the 2025 Conference in Budva, Montenegro.

Held in the Staklena sala, the session brought together prominent experts and decision-makers in the field of fire safety legislation from across the region. Dr Jug joined at the panel that included Goran Samardžić, (from the Association of Security Managers of Montenegro) Nenad Jocić (from the Association of Security Managers of Serbia), and Prof Dr Meri Cvetkovska (from the Saints Cyril and Methodius University, North Macedonia), among others.

The roundtable focused on the urgent need for Montenegro to adopt its first comprehensive Fire Safety Act. Panelists emphasized that such legislation is essential for improving fire prevention, ensuring preparedness, and enabling effective response to emergencies. A clear legal framework would also help strengthen institutional coordination and bring Montenegro in line with European standards in fire protection.

Dr Jug, also serving as President of the Slovenian Fire Protection Association, contributed insights based on Slovenia’s experience and highlighted the importance of evidence-based regulations for building safer and more resilient communities.