The event was organised by Croatia’s Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy – Directorate for EU Programmes, in partnership with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which together serve as coordinators of Pillar 5 – Enhanced Social Cohesion.

The meeting brought together representatives of the Pillar 5 Thematic Steering Group from seven countries across the Adriatic-Ionian region, along with officials from the European Commission.

On the first day, participants reviewed ongoing work, including collaboration with other EUSAIR thematic pillars, updates from the Governing Board, and recent developments involving the Youth Council.

Preliminary results of the study Skills for a Competitive and Resilient Adriatic-Ionian Region were also presented. The discussion highlighted the importance of skills development as a foundation for improving employability, fostering social inclusion, and supporting sustainable regional growth, in line with the goals of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).

Key EUSAIR Pillar 5 flagship initiatives were introduced, such as the EUSAIR Youth Entrepreneurship Alliance, Social Innovations for an Ageing Population, and the EUSAIR Skills Alliance for the Future. Their next steps and implementation prospects were further examined during an interactive workshop led by the Pillar 5 thematic expert, which encouraged participants to share ideas, experiences, and recommendations.

On the second day, 22 April, attendees took part in a study visit to the Youth Centre Vila Braun and FabLab Sarajevo. These visits showcased examples of best practices in areas such as skills development, youth employment, and labour market integration, including the CiNS4YOUTH project.