diff --git a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/__init__.py b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/__init__.py
index 00e90d898..e69de29bb 100644
--- a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/__init__.py
+++ b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/__init__.py
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-# Copyright 2020 EMBL - European Bioinformatics Institute
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-# You may obtain a copy of the License at
-#
-#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-# limitations under the License.
-
-import logging
-import sys
-
-
-def init_logger():
-    logging.basicConfig(stream=sys.stdout, level=logging.INFO, format='%(asctime)-15s %(levelname)s %(message)s')
-    result_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-    return result_logger
-
-
-logger = init_logger()
diff --git a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/release_common_utils.py b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/release_common_utils.py
index 608080afe..58829a864 100644
--- a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/release_common_utils.py
+++ b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/release_common_utils.py
@@ -12,18 +12,19 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import logging
 import os
 import signal
 import traceback
 from functools import lru_cache
 
+from ebi_eva_common_pyutils.logger import logging_config
+
 from run_release_in_embassy.release_metadata import get_target_mongo_instance_for_assembly
 from ebi_eva_internal_pyutils.metadata_utils import get_metadata_connection_handle
 from ebi_eva_common_pyutils.network_utils import get_available_local_port, forward_remote_port_to_local_port
 from ebi_eva_common_pyutils.taxonomy import taxonomy
 
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+logger = logging_config.get_logger(__name__)
 
 
 def open_mongo_port_to_tempmongo(private_config_xml_file, profile, taxonomy_id, assembly,
diff --git a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_assembly.nf b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_assembly.nf
index 676aa3016..12a524d7a 100644
--- a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_assembly.nf
+++ b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_assembly.nf
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 nextflow.enable.dsl=2
 
 workflow {
-    initiate_release_status_for_assembly | copy_accessioning_collections_to_embassy | run_release_for_assembly | \
+    initiate_release_status_for_assembly('initiate') | copy_accessioning_collections_to_embassy | run_release_for_assembly | \
     merge_dbsnp_eva_release_files | sort_bgzip_index_release_files | validate_release_vcf_files | \
     analyze_vcf_validation_results | count_rs_ids_in_release_files | validate_rs_release_files | \
     update_sequence_names_to_ena | update_release_status_for_assembly
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ process initiate_release_status_for_assembly {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.initiate_release_status_for_assembly --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-version $params.release_version 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.initiate_release_status_for_assembly --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-version $params.release_version 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ process copy_accessioning_collections_to_embassy {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.copy_accessioning_collections_to_embassy --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --dump-dir $params.dump_dir 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.copy_accessioning_collections_to_embassy --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --dump-dir $params.dump_dir 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ process run_release_for_assembly {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.run_release_for_assembly --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder --release-jar-path $params.jar.release_pipeline 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.run_release_for_assembly --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder --release-jar-path $params.jar.release_pipeline 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ process merge_dbsnp_eva_release_files {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.merge_dbsnp_eva_release_files --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --bgzip-path $params.executable.bgzip --bcftools-path $params.executable.bcftools --vcf-sort-script-path $params.executable.sort_vcf_sorted_chromosomes --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.merge_dbsnp_eva_release_files --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --bgzip-path $params.executable.bgzip --bcftools-path $params.executable.bcftools --vcf-sort-script-path $params.executable.sort_vcf_sorted_chromosomes --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ process sort_bgzip_index_release_files {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.sort_bgzip_index_release_files --bgzip-path $params.executable.bgzip --bcftools-path $params.executable.bcftools --vcf-sort-script-path $params.executable.sort_vcf_sorted_chromosomes --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.sort_bgzip_index_release_files --bgzip-path $params.executable.bgzip --bcftools-path $params.executable.bcftools --vcf-sort-script-path $params.executable.sort_vcf_sorted_chromosomes --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ process validate_release_vcf_files {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.validate_release_vcf_files --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder --vcf-validator-path $params.executable.vcf_validator --assembly-checker-path $params.executable.vcf_assembly_checker 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.validate_release_vcf_files --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder --vcf-validator-path $params.executable.vcf_validator --assembly-checker-path $params.executable.vcf_assembly_checker 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ process analyze_vcf_validation_results {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.analyze_vcf_validation_results --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder --assembly-accession $params.assembly 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.analyze_vcf_validation_results --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder --assembly-accession $params.assembly 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ process count_rs_ids_in_release_files {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.count_rs_ids_in_release_files --count-ids-script-path $params.executable.count_ids_in_vcf --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.count_rs_ids_in_release_files --count-ids-script-path $params.executable.count_ids_in_vcf --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ process validate_rs_release_files {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.validate_rs_release_files --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.validate_rs_release_files --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --release-version $params.release_version --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ process update_sequence_names_to_ena {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.update_sequence_names_to_ena --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder --sequence-name-converter-path $params.executable.convert_vcf_file --bcftools-path $params.executable.bcftools 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.update_sequence_names_to_ena --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --species-release-folder $params.assembly_folder --sequence-name-converter-path $params.executable.convert_vcf_file --bcftools-path $params.executable.bcftools 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
 
@@ -170,6 +170,6 @@ process update_release_status_for_assembly {
     script:
     """
     export PYTHONPATH=$params.python_path
-    $params.python_script -m run_release_in_embassy.update_release_status_for_assembly --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-version $params.release_version 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
+    $params.executable.python.interpreter -m run_release_in_embassy.update_release_status_for_assembly --private-config-xml-file $params.maven.settings_file --profile $params.maven.environment --release-species-inventory-table eva_progress_tracker.clustering_release_tracker --taxonomy-id $params.taxonomy --assembly-accession $params.assembly --release-version $params.release_version 1>> $params.log_file 2>&1
     """
 }
diff --git a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_assembly.py b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_assembly.py
index 630f5ec92..f6c6b326c 100644
--- a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_assembly.py
+++ b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_assembly.py
@@ -13,16 +13,17 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import click
-import logging
 import sys
 import traceback
 
+from ebi_eva_common_pyutils.logger import logging_config
+
 from run_release_in_embassy.create_release_properties_file import create_release_properties_file_for_assembly
 from run_release_in_embassy.release_common_utils import open_mongo_port_to_tempmongo, close_mongo_port_to_tempmongo
 from ebi_eva_common_pyutils.command_utils import run_command_with_output
 
 
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+logger = logging_config.get_logger(__name__)
 
 
 def run_release_for_assembly(private_config_xml_file, profile, taxonomy_id, assembly_accession,
diff --git a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_species.py b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_species.py
index f3c41a8c8..531177120 100644
--- a/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_species.py
+++ b/eva-accession-release-automation/run_release_in_embassy/run_release_for_species.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from argparse import ArgumentParser
 
 import os
+from functools import lru_cache
 
 import yaml
 from ebi_eva_common_pyutils.command_utils import run_command_with_output
@@ -24,12 +25,12 @@
 from run_release_in_embassy.release_common_utils import get_release_folder_name
 
 
-logger = logging_config.getLogger(__name__)
+logger = logging_config.get_logger(__name__)
 
 
 def get_nextflow_params(taxonomy_id, assembly_accession, release_version):
     dump_dir = os.path.join(get_species_release_folder(taxonomy_id), 'dumps')
-    release_dir = get_release_log_file_name(taxonomy_id, assembly_accession)
+    release_dir = get_assembly_release_folder(taxonomy_id, assembly_accession)
     config_param = os.path.join(release_dir, f'nextflow_params_{taxonomy_id}_{assembly_accession}.yaml')
     os.makedirs(dump_dir, exist_ok=True)
     yaml_data = {
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ def get_nextflow_params(taxonomy_id, assembly_accession, release_version):
 
 def get_nextflow_config():
     if 'RELEASE_NEXTFLOW_CONFIG' in os.environ and os.path.isfile(os.environ['RELEASE_NEXTFLOW_CONFIG']):
-        return os.environ['RELEASE_NEXTFLOW_CONFIG']
+        return os.path.abspath(os.environ['RELEASE_NEXTFLOW_CONFIG'])
 
 
 def get_run_release_for_assembly_nextflow():
@@ -61,15 +62,21 @@ def get_run_release_for_assembly_nextflow():
 
 
 def get_release_log_file_name(taxonomy_id, assembly_accession):
-    return f"{cfg['species-release-folder']}/{assembly_accession}/release_{taxonomy_id}_{assembly_accession}.log"
+    return f"{get_assembly_release_folder(taxonomy_id, assembly_accession)}/release_{taxonomy_id}_{assembly_accession}.log"
 
 
+@lru_cache
 def get_species_release_folder(taxonomy_id):
-    return os.path.join(cfg["release_output"], get_release_folder_name(taxonomy_id))
+    folder = os.path.join(cfg.query('release', 'release_output'), get_release_folder_name(taxonomy_id))
+    os.makedirs(folder, exist_ok=True)
+    return folder
 
 
+@lru_cache
 def get_assembly_release_folder(taxonomy_id, assembly_accession):
-    return os.path.join(get_species_release_folder(taxonomy_id), assembly_accession)
+    folder = os.path.join(get_species_release_folder(taxonomy_id), assembly_accession)
+    os.makedirs(folder, exist_ok=True)
+    return folder
 
 
 def run_release_for_species(taxonomy_id, release_assemblies, release_version, resume=False):
@@ -88,11 +95,11 @@ def run_release_for_species(taxonomy_id, release_assemblies, release_version, re
             release_dir = get_assembly_release_folder(taxonomy_id, assembly_accession)
             nextflow_config = get_nextflow_config()
             workflow_command = ' '.join((
-                f"cd {release_dir} && "
-                f"{cfg.query('executable', 'nextflow')} run {workflow_file_path} "
-                f"-params-file {nextflow_params} "
-                f'-c {nextflow_config}' if nextflow_config else ''
-                '-resume' if resume else ''
+                f"cd {release_dir} &&",
+                f"{cfg.query('executable', 'nextflow')} run {workflow_file_path}",
+                f"-params-file {nextflow_params}",
+                f'-c {nextflow_config}' if nextflow_config else '',
+                '-resume' if resume else '',
             ))
             logger.info(f"Running workflow file {workflow_file_path} with the following command: "
                         f"\n {workflow_command} \n")
@@ -109,12 +116,12 @@ def load_config(*args):
 
 def main():
     argparse = ArgumentParser()
-    argparse.add_argument("--taxonomy-id", help="ex: 9913", required=True)
-    argparse.add_argument("--assembly-accessions", nargs='+', help="ex: GCA_000003055.3")
+    argparse.add_argument("--taxonomy_id", help="ex: 9913", required=True)
+    argparse.add_argument("--assembly_accessions", nargs='+', help="ex: GCA_000003055.3")
     argparse.add_argument("--release_version", required=True)
     argparse.add_argument("--resume", default=False, required=False,
                           help="Resume the nextflow pipeline for the specified taxonomy and assembly")
-    argparse.add_argument("--release_config-properties-file",
+    argparse.add_argument("--release_config_file",
                           help="Path to the release configuration file. That will override the config specified with "
                                "RELEASE_CONFIG variable or placed in ~/.release_config.yml.",
                           required=False)
@@ -122,7 +129,7 @@ def main():
 
     logging_config.add_stdout_handler()
 
-    load_config(args.common_release_properties_file)
+    load_config(args.release_config_file)
 
     run_release_for_species(args.taxonomy_id, args.assembly_accessions, args.release_version, args.resume)