With the theme “Bridging Horizons: Strengthening Cooperation, Resilience and Cohesion in the Adriatic-Ionian Region,” the 10th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) kicked off the 6th of May on the scenic island of Crete.

This year’s 10th EUSAIR Forum also celebrates a major milestone — the Strategy’s 10-year anniversary.

On the afternoon of the EUSAIR Forum’s second day in Georgioupolis, the focus shifted to Pillar 4—Sustainable Tourism—highlighting how cultural tourism and the Mediterranean Diet can serve as catalysts for sustainable growth in the Adriatic-Ionian Region.

At the EUSAIR Forum in Georgioupolis, the conversation around social cohesion took center stage during the Pillar 5 session on the second afternoon of the event.

On the first day of the 10th EUSAIR Forum, the afternoon was dedicated to critical environmental challenges, with a special focus on marine protection under Pillar 3 – Environmental Quality.

The Barcelona Convention—formally known as the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution—was established in 1976 as a regional agreement to combat pollution in the Mediterranean.

From April 7 to 9, 2025, the island of Corfu, Greece, hosted the 22nd session of the EUSAIR Thematic Steering Group for Pillar 3 – Environmental Quality, alongside the event Accelerating Climate Change Adaptation in the Adriatic-Ionian Region.

The second gathering of the Thematic Steering Group under Pillar 5 of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), which emphasizes enhancing social cohesion, took place in Zadar on April 3.

Under the theme “Empowering Youth for a Brighter Adriatic-Ionian Future: Introducing the EUSAIR Youth Council,” the first-ever networking session of the EUSAIR Youth Council will be held on the second day of the 10th EUSAIR Annual Forum, taking place in Georgioupolis on May 6–7.

Following consultations with the European Parliament and in line with the European Council's 2024–2029 Agenda and the Political Guidelines for the same period, the European Commission has introduced key updates to the Cohesion Policy.