The first session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected seas took place in Rome, 21-22 November 2005.

The meeting confirmed that a European-North African TWS is urgently needed as the Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean, is the second largest source of tsunamis around the globe.

Given the short geographical distances between possible sources and coastal target regions of an impact (i.e. in the Mediterranean), a regional TWS for Europe has to rely on a dense network of seismic stations to provide timely forecasts and warnings.

An interim tsunami warning system is intended to be in place by end of 2009.