At the end of February, a conference was held in Zagreb on the occasion of the start of the implementation of three strategic projects (EUSAIR Facility Point, StEP, SP4EUSAIR), financed from the IPA ADRION Programme, with the aim of providing support for the achievement of the goals defined by the EU Strategy for the Adriatic–Ionian Region (EUSAIR). The Ministry of European Integration, as a project partner, participates in the implementation of two strategic projects in the total amount of EUR 9.88 million. On that occasion, Sanda Šimić Stambolić, Acting Assistant Minister at the Ministry of European Integration, pointed out the importance of those projects for the implementation of the revised Action Plan, which would soon be adopted, and emphasised that the results of each macro-regional strategy were reflected in the success of the countries’ cooperation and the specificity of the territory it covers. The “Facility Point – Supporting the EUSAIR macro region governance for improved cooperation” project (second phase) provides support to the management structures of the strategy, steering committee and thematic working groups with the aim of improving the decision-making process and the process of monitoring and evaluating the results defined by the EUSAIR Action Plan. The project will be implemented in partnership with all EUSAIR participating countries (10 in total).
The second project titled “Support to Development and Implementation of Strategic Implementation Formats – SP4EUSAIR”, aims to strengthen ties in the Adriatic–Ionian region, develop strategic projects that have an impact on the macro-region and enhancing regional policy learning. The project’s activities will include a selection of key strategic ideas and the preparation of project proposals that will contribute to sustainable development and cooperation in the entire Adriatic–Ionian region. The Ministry of European Integration will implement this project in cooperation with the Croatian Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, with which it is already successfully implementing the Interreg Croatia–Serbia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.
The third project, “EUSAIR Stakeholders Engagement Point - StEP”, works on the involvement and engagement of key stakeholders at the regional level with the aim of more effective implementation of EUSAIR priorities. The EUSAIR Stakeholder Platform facilitates the formation of partnerships between organisations in the region, as well as information exchange and training on key EUSAIR topics. Registration for interested organisations is possible at the following address: https://www.espcommunity.eu/
EUSAIR improves cooperation, alleviates social, economic and territorial differences, facilitates connection between the countries of the Adriatic–Ionian region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia and Slovenia). The strategy relies on five thematic pillars (areas of cooperation), which are defined as: blue growth, connecting regions, environmental quality, sustainable tourism and social affairs.
More information about EUSAIR can be found on the following website: https://www.adriatic-ionian.eu/
