#SEA4FUTURE: Official opening of the Macroregional Strategies Week and press conference
The Macroregional Strategies Week (known also as the Mediterranean Coast and Macroregional Strategies Week) started on 17 September 2019 in Portorož, Slovenia.
The slogan of the this year's Week was #SEA4FUTURE and promoted personal responsibility towards a better environmental future for sea and coast in the Adriatic-Ionian region and a better quality of life of people.
The central theme of this year's event was cooperation within the Adriatic-Ionian macroregional strategy, known as EUSAIR.
Nevenka Ribič, State Secretary at Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy addressed the participants of the official opening of the Macroregional Strategies Week 2019, by marking the event as an excellent opportunity for open dialogue on how to address the common challenges posed by the common sea more effectively. »Macroregional cooperation paves the way for our common future and a better tomorrow,« she said.
The opening was attended by a number of speakers from both the local and national and European level. It gathered governmental and non-governmental representatives from Slovenia and from 19 more countries, involving representatives of the European Commission, Interreg ADRION programme, the EUSBSR, EUSALP and EUSDR Strategies and Interact programme.
The press conference of the Macroregional Strategies Week highlighted the programme of the week.
"This year, the focus is on the EUSAIR strategy, with a strong learning experience with other macro-regional strategies. Slovenia plays an important role in building synergies and partnerships among the strategies as it is located in the intersection of the three existing macroregions, the EUSALP, the EUSDR, the EUSAIR. Establishing partnership is important for future implementation and especially for the year 2020 when Slovenia will take over the Chairmanship of the EUSAIR Strategy," said Andreja Jerina from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Next, Mitja Bricelj from the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, highlighted the opportunities the EUSAIR is offering in terms of designing and carrying out new projects ideas. »Macroregional Strategies Week is an important international event, in which we will showcase Slovenia's concrete achievements in reducing pressure on the coast and the sea, and together with all participants, we will improve its ecological status,« said Bricelj.
Later on Staša Mesec from the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, stressed the importance of the Facility Point strategic project in supporting the implementation of the EUSAIR Strategy among the eight countries. She reflected on the first concrete macroregional project ideas that are being developed within the partnership, and empasized the importance of strategic communication and strengthening cooperation among EUSAIR and ESIF/IPA authorities.
At the end Uroš Robič, Coordinator of the Coastal Cleanup 2019 event, announced the 10th anniversary of the event which will happen at various locations throughout the Slovenian coast. »On this day we will roll up our sleeves, put on gloves and spend a useful social day following the motto Less to make More,« Robič concluded.
