The Skopje Declaration was adopted during the Forum. It reaffirms the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative and EUSAIR as key strategic frameworks for enhancing regional cooperation, stability, security, and prosperity across the Adriatic-Ionian region, especially in light of the current geopolitical challenges affecting Europe and the broader international community.
The Declaration emphasizes that EU enlargement continues to represent an important geostrategic investment in peace, stability, and prosperity, highlighting the need for a credible, predictable, and merit-based accession process for candidate countries. It welcomes the renewed momentum of the enlargement agenda and encourages stronger involvement of Western Balkan partners in reform efforts and gradual integration measures, including through the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and strengthened regional cooperation within the EUSAIR framework.
It also highlights the adoption of the revised EUSAIR Action Plan and the introduction of the fifth social pillar, which places greater focus on social cohesion, digitalisation, resilience, place-based development, and alignment with the EU enlargement process. The Declaration underlines the importance of systematically integrating EUSAIR priorities into future EU funding mechanisms and post-2027 cohesion policies, while reinforcing multilevel governance, institutional cooperation, and coordination among macro-regional strategies.
Furthermore, the Declaration recognizes the strategic significance of regional connectivity, energy security, transport corridors, and initiatives such as the Green Lanes, along with broader European and intercontinental connectivity projects. It calls for stronger cooperation and synergies between EU member states and candidate countries in addressing shared economic, energy, digital, and environmental challenges.
Particular attention is devoted to youth, civil society, and regional stakeholders. The Declaration praises the work of the EUSAIR Youth Council and supports initiatives focused on tackling brain drain, youth unemployment, entrepreneurship, and skills development throughout the region. It also acknowledges the valuable contribution of academia, chambers of commerce, local authorities, and civil society organisations in implementing EUSAIR priorities and promoting inclusive regional cooperation.
Finally, the Declaration commends North Macedonia for its successful AII/EUSAIR Chairmanship and welcomes the handover of the Presidency to Italy for the 2026–2027 period, reaffirming the shared commitment to advancing regional cooperation, sustainable growth, European integration, and closer alignment with European Union values and priorities.
