The Republic of North Macedonia has officially taken over the Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) as well as the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative (AII). This milestone coincides with the fifth anniversary of North Macedonia joining the Strategy in 2020 and the seventh year of its membership in the Initiative.

On 29–30 September 2025, a high-level workshop will take place in Bari, exploring the role of the Mediterranean Diet as a key driver for sustainable tourism and regional growth in the Adriatic-Ionian area. This event is being held under the EUSAIR Presidency of North Macedonia and is co-organized by CIHEAM Bari, DG REGIO, EGP, and the Coordinators of EUSAIR Pillars I, IV, and V, in collaboration with DG AGRI, DG MARE, and DG GROW/DG MOVE.

The registration is now open for the special 10th Anniversary edition of the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week, scheduled from 15 to 17 September 2025 in the scenic seaside town of Izola, Slovenia.

As part of the lead-up to the Pillar 2 (Transport and Energy) Workshop, titled “Green and Smart Ports: Shaping the Future of Green Transition and Skills Development in the Adriatic-Ionian Region”, scheduled for 16 October 2025 in Trieste, there are two focused online workshops designed to involve key stakeholders from across the Adriatic-Ionian area.

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.