Every year Forum attracts numerous stakeholders from public sector, business and academia at the local, regional, national and EU level. In the course of two-days, participants can attend numerous side events and cultural events.

This year’s Forum was held under the Italian Presidency, focusing on transport and energy issues as well as financing opportunities for the region. It allowed for a comparative analysis of the EUSAIR perspectives, by encouraging dialogue between financial partners (including EU Programmes Authorities) and strategic actors, in order to overcome the gaps between Strategy objectives and financing opportunities related to programmatic actions.

The Forum was also be the context to identify development and growth opportunities within the four pillars of the common strategy, namely: sea sustainability, transport and energy networks (Italy will be leading the related Panels), environmental quality and sustainable tourism. The Event finally  strengthened collaboration and partnerships between the Adriatic -Ionian Macro-Region and all the actors involved.

The ministerial representatives of the eight countries accepted the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to become the ninth Participating Country of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative and stressed out that the next step is on the Council of the European Union and the European Commission to undertake all necessary steps to include the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region.

Read the Declaration here.

ADRION Managing Authority and Joint Secretariat presentations,  ADRION projects presentations can be found here

Read the press-release here.