Tenth edition of the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week comes to a close

At the official opening on September 16, the mayor of the host municipality, Milan Bogatič, and Ambassador Barbara Žvokelj, Secretary-General at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, addressed the participants.

Mayor Milan Bogatič underlined that the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week is an important venue to open a dialogue on four macro-regional strategies (the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP), the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR)). He emphasised that we must address the issue of sea level rise and plan strategic spatial interventions to ensure a safe and high-quality life by the sea in the future.

The consultation within the framework of the EUSAIR Thematic Steering Group on Environmental Quality was organised by the co-coordinators, Dr. Mitja Bricelj and Dr. Senad Oprašić. It was co-organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning. The Director-General of the Water Directorate of the aforementioned ministry, Dr Lidija Globevnik, emphasised that “this event has an impact on the decision-making processes, including the preparation of projects that are of vital importance to all countries bordering the sea. Without the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week, many important projects, including the North Adriatic Marine Incident Response System (NAMIRS), would not have been implemented. Such projects are essential for the protection of coastal and marine resources, which are facing an increasing pressure from traffic and pollution from source to sea.”

She also recalled that it was Slovenia’s experience with Mediterranean Coast Day, which grew into Mediterranean Coast Week, that gave rise to the initiative to declare a World Coast Day within the framework of the United Nations (UN). The initiative was presented by Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Jože Novak at the UN Conference on the Environment in Nice in June. Its purpose is to strengthen cooperation between countries for the health of the seas and greater climate resilience of the coasts. The initiative has already been discussed by the Barcelona Convention Bureau.

Dr. Mitja Bricelj added that: “Slovenia is proactively implementing the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), to which the Slovenian Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week and arrangement of the coastal area between Izola and Koper have also contributed significantly over the last decade. According to the latest analysis carried out under the Barcelona Convention in 2025, Slovenia is the most successful country in terms of integrated coastal management in the entire Mediterranean area.” This was confirmed by Barbara Žvokelj, who highlighted all the achievements of the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week on the occasion of its tenth edition. She emphasised that the interstate emergency response plan in the event of accidents at sea, as well as the protection and enhancement of natural habitats and ecosystems on land for large carnivores, is crucial. “Both flagship projects received additional EU funds under relevant calls for proposals.” These projects, as well as the entire week-long process that brings together Member States and candidate countries in macro-regional strategies, play an important role in the EU accession process for candidate countries and other third countries.

he opening day also featured a political panel attended by the State Secretary for Cohesion Policy mag. Marko Koprivc. State Secretary Koprivc participated in a political panel on the post-2027 Cohesion Policy, entitled "More Cooperation, More Europe," as part of the opening of the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week. State Secretary Koprivc underlined that the continuation of a strong EU Cohesion Policy post 2027 is crucial for strengthening cooperation within the EU and with candidate countries. “More cohesion also means a more competitive, resilient, and secure Europe. That is why Slovenia supports an adequately resourced post-2027 Cohesion Policy budget.” The panel also included Dr. Vladimir Prebilič, Member of the European Parliament and member of the Committee on Regional Development, Roland Arbter, Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Austria and National Coordinator for the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), Johan Magnusson from the European Commission, Team Leader of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and the  EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

The political panel was followed by an expert panel on the importance of macro-strategies for EU enlargement. The panel provided an opportunity for representatives of Member States, candidate countries and the European Commission to exchange views on the role of the EUSDR and EUSAIR strategies in supporting candidate countries. Speakers included Valentina Superti from the European Commission, Predrag Zenović, Montenegro’s chief negotiator with the EU, Midhat Džemić, National Coordinator for EUSDR and EUSAIR from Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of the North Macedonian Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Peter Grk from the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The panel was moderated by Ambassador Sabina Stadler Repnik.

The special round table was entirely co-created by young people, from preparation and moderation to discussion. At the roundtable, members of the EU MRS Youth Council presented their ideas for tackling contemporary challenges. They demonstrated how young people are shaping a more inclusive and sustainable Europe through various initiatives, entrepreneurial projects, and actions. Among the solutions presented was the EUSAIR POPRI youth initiative, which, under the leadership of the Primorska Technology Park, connects technology parks throughout the Adriatic-Ionian region and has grown into an international success story.

On the last day of Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week, discussions focused on the future of smart development and the blue economy. The SmartEra project presented solutions for the smart transformation of rural areas, while the GROWTH4BLUE panel discussed the links between education, the blue economy, and the labour market.