Implementation of EUSAIR kicks-off: first results from the meetings of the Thematic Steering Groups – March and April 2015
The first meetings of the Thematic Steering Groups (TSG) of the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) for the pillars of Blue Growth (pillar 1), Connecting the region (pillar 2), Environmental Quality (pillar 3, see picture on the right) and Sustainable tourism (pillar 4) took place respectively in Athens (Greece) on 27 March, Trieste (Italy) on 21-2 April, Piran (Slovenia) on 5 March, and Tirana (Albania) on 12/13 March 2015.
Representatives of the administrations of the eight participating countries (four EU Member States: Croatia, Italy, Greece and Slovenia, and four non-EU countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia), gathered together to discuss on the rules, procedures, criteria, targets and indicators that will govern their work in order to implement the Strategy and its Action Plan. The European Commission was represented by several services including the Directorates-General for Regional and Urban Policy, Maritime Affairs, Environment, and Growth.
As an outcome of the meetings, the TSGs members agreed to carry out some "homework", based on the identification of the priority actions in the Strategy's Action Plan concerning their respective pillar, as well as the criteria to be used to select the best actions/projects within them. The TSG will also map possible sources of financing (EU and non EU) available in the countries for these projects. On this basis, a work plan will be established in the second round of TSG meetings during June/July 2015.
Each TSG is chaired by two pillar coordinators, designated by a pair of countries per pillar (1 – Greece and Montenegro, 2 – Italy and Serbia, 3- Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4- Croatia and Albania).
Meeting of the TSG of Pillar 1 held in Athens on 27 March.
Meeting of the TSG of Pillar 2 which took place in Trieste on 21-22 April.
The TSG of Pillar 4 in the meeting held in Tirana on 12-13 March.
