NEWS: ...

From 15 to 17 September 2026, the 11th Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week took place in Izola, Slovenia, bringing together representatives of European institutions, countries, regions, programmes, projects, academia, businesses and civil society to strengthen cooperation and develop joint solutions to common European challenges.

The event provided an important platform for discussions on the future of EU Cohesion Policy, macro-regional cooperation and European investments, as well as sustainable tourism, innovation, transport connectivity, environmental protection and the green transition. A central message emerging from the three-day programme was that effective responses to shared challenges require cooperation across borders, sectors and governance levels.

ECOBREEDS connecting with EUSAIR and IPA ADRION projects

The ECOBREEDS project participated in the TSG3 Environment Pillar and Interreg IPA ADRION Matchmaking Event, which aimed to strengthen links between EUSAIR Pillar 3 – Environmental Quality and Interreg IPA ADRION projects. ECOBREEDS contributed its experience in the fields of pastoral systems, biodiversity conservation and the preservation of local livestock breeds, while exploring synergies with other projects and stakeholders. The matchmaking activities provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge and good practices, identify possibilities for future cooperation and strengthen the transfer and capitalisation of project results.

ECOBREEDS also participated in activities related to Thematic Cluster 7 – Biodiversity and Natural Terrestrial Habitat Conservation, contributing to networking among projects addressing biodiversity, ecosystems and sustainable management of natural resources.

A key message from the event was that macro-regional cooperation is increasingly moving from dialogue towards implementation – building partnerships, preparing investments, mobilising funding and transforming strategic priorities into concrete actions.

For ECOBREEDS, participation in Izola represented an important opportunity to broaden the project’s network, connect its results with wider Adriatic-Ionian and European priorities, and explore possibilities for their transferability, capitalisation and long-term uptake.

The conclusions of the 2026 Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week highlighted three central messages: macro-regional strategies can translate European priorities into tangible benefits for territories and communities; smart investments are essential for strengthening cohesion, competitiveness and resilience; and cross-border cooperation remains fundamental for building a more sustainable, innovative and connected Europe. The exchanges and partnerships established in Izola provide a valuable basis for continued cooperation and for strengthening the contribution of projects such as ECOBREEDS to sustainable and resilient rural and natural areas across the Adriatic-Ionian region.
In preparation for the event, AZRRI – Agency for Rural Development of Istria participated on behalf of the ECOBREEDS project in the online preparatory meeting held on 10 September 2026, which focused on the Mission Tables methodology, project contributions and opportunities for synergies, complementarities and future cooperation.