The 7th Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), entitled “EU – Youth Cultural Exchange”, is taking place in Tirana from today until 18 May, as Albania holds the rotating presidency of the Forum.
The proceedings of the Forum open this morning, at 10:30 Greek time (09:30 local time), with the speeches of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania, Megi Fino, the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms EU Commissioner Eliza Ferreira, San Marino Foreign Minister Luca Beccari, President of the Adriatic-Ionian Chamber of Commerce Forum Joze Tomaš and Aspasania Congo from the European Capital of Youth 20.
The 7th EUSAIR Forum, according to its organizers, has been designed as a great networking and experience event, offering opportunities for good practice sharing. They also note that it is an opportunity to discuss the future of the Strategy and its role in addressing key issues in the Adriatic and Ionian region. In addition, the initiatives and projects implemented in the Adriatic and Ionian region will be reviewed. At the same time, on the occasion of the fact that 2022 is the EU Youth Year, the Forum sessions will place great emphasis on the cooperation of young people living in the Adriatic and Ionian countries. Other topics to be discussed relate to the European Integration of the Western Balkans, the EU Green Agenda, Tourism, Culture and Connectivity, either through digitization or transport and infrastructure.
In fact, this year the Forum expands the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region with the participation of a new member. San Marino became the 10th member of the Strategy in February.
The aim of the Albanian Presidency is to upgrade the role of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region / Adriatic and Ionian Initiative as a regional mechanism focusing on promoting integration, youth culture, tourism, connectivity and infrastructure and exchanges of its member countries.
There will be two thematic sessions on the first day. The first “From Blue Growth to a Sustainable Blue Economy” and the second “The energy transition in the Adriatic-Ionian Region: challenges and new perspectives for cooperation”. The second day will start with the debate on the environment, on “Biodiversity / Protected marine areas beyond national jurisdiction” and will be followed by “The role of tourism and culture in the revision of the EUSAIR action plan”. EUSAIR will conclude with the Adriatic-Ionian Youth Organizations Forum.
It is noted that Albania will hand over the EUSAIR presidency to Bosnia and Herzegovina for one year.
The Strategy involves four EU member states, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, and six non-members: Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina, Northern Macedonia and San Marino. The cooperation is implemented through four pillars which concern Blue Growth, Connectivity (Transport and Energy), Environment and Tourism.
The EU Adriatic and Ionian Strategy (EUSAIR) is a macro-regional strategy adopted by the European Commission and ratified by the European Council in 2014. The strategy was jointly developed by the European Commission, the countries and stakeholders of the Region. Adriatic – Ionian, who agreed to cooperate in areas of common interest for the benefit of each state and the entire region.
It is noted that the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region is one of the four macro-regional strategies of the EU. The other three are the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (2009), the EU Strategy for the Region of the Ionian Sea. Danube (2011) and the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (2016).
The overall goal of the Adriatic and Ionian Region Strategy is to promote economic and social prosperity and development in the region by improving its attractiveness, competitiveness and connectivity.
As 5 countries of the Western Balkans participate in the Strategy, its central point is the consolidation of the European orientation of the region and its European integration. The 10 countries also aim to create synergies and strengthen coordination among themselves in promoting sustainable practices for the tourism industry, environmental protection, interconnectedness and the sustainable development of the maritime and maritime sector.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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