EUSAIR strategy for further green development in region

Ljubljana – Representatives of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) presented on Wednesday the initiative’s key achievements since June 2020 when Slovenia took over the year-long EUSAIR presidency. The stint at the helm has revolved around green cooperation and environmentally-friendly development.

Mitja Bricelj, a co-coordinator of the strategy’s Environmental Quality Pillar, presented at today’s online press conference green achievements in the regions’s development, including protection of the marine environment, green infrastructure and ecosystem services, reads a press release by the Foreign Ministry.

Bricelj highlighted innovative cross-border projects that aim to raise awareness about ecological corridors under water and on land, comprehensive coast management, marine spatial planning and prevention of pollution from ship accidents.

All these projects have contributed extensively to efforts to meet the EU’s Green Deal targets and goals of the region’s marine policy, he said.

Ivana Stojanović of the Montenegrin Ministry of Ecology, Spatial planning and Urbanism spoke about funding options, highlighting the instruments that are available to non-EU countries.

Iztok Škerlič of the JZP Izola-EUSAIR Facility Point meanwhile said that there were many opportunities to get funding for Environmental Quality Pillar projects via the EU’s 2021-2027 financial framework. “Most of the funds will be dedicated to environmental priority tasks,” he said.

EUSAIR, one of the four EU macro-regional strategies, addresses the region’s joint challenges and strengthens cooperation between countries and stakeholders to promote economic and social prosperity and growth in the region. It features nine countries – Slovenia, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia.

This year’s EUSAIR forum will be held in the Slovenian coastal town of Izola in May, focusing on climate challenges and the post-pandemic sustainable recovery in the region.

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