10th EUSAIR Annual Forum: Bridging Horizons: Strengthening Cooperation, Resilience and Cohesion in the Adriatic-Ionian Region

The 10^th EUSAIR Annual Forum, organised by the Hellenic Republic brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials and policy makers, regional representatives, entrepreneurs, researchers, civil society organisation members, youth, and international partners, more than 400 participants, all united by the common goal of advancing cooperation and development in the Adriatic and Ionian Region.

This year's Forum is marked by celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Strategy’s work. Following the Forum, the Revised Action Plan was submitted to the European Commission for the formal adoption. This new revised Action Plan will serve as the foundation for implementing the Strategy in the forthcoming period.

This year we celebrated the first participation of the EUSAIR Youth Council in the Forum  within the session "Empowering Youth for a Brighter Adriatic – Ionian Future: Introducing the EUSAIR Youth Council". As well as the further involvement of the newly established 5^th Pillar – Improved Social Cohesion.  This was complemented by dynamic discussions under the remaining  Pillars of the Strategy: Blue Growth, Connecting the Region – Energy and Transport, Environmental Quality, and Sustainable Tourism, which continue to serve as the backbone of EUSAIR’s strategic vision for a sustainable and integrated Adriatic-Ionian Region. Each pillar addressed pressing regional priorities, from green innovation and connectivity to environmental resilience and heritage-based tourism.

At the Forum the EUSAIR Presidency was passed on to North Macedonia assuming the rotating leadership of the Strategy from June 2025 until May 2026.

At the Forum, the Crete Declaration was adopted. The EUSAIR Crete Declaration reaffirms the Strategy’s vital role as a key instrument for addressing socio-economic challenges and supporting EU enlargement in the Adriatic-Ionian region, recognizing it as a geo-strategic investment in peace, stability, and prosperity.

It commends the Hellenic Presidency for finalizing the Revised Action Plan, which introduces innovative components such as improved social cohesion, youth involvement, and enhanced cross-cutting topics, all aligned with EU priorities. The Declaration highlights the need for stronger political commitment, capacity building, and civil society engagement to implement the Strategy effectively.

It underscores EU enlargement as a horizontal topic within EUSAIR and acknowledges the progress of candidate and association countries in aligning with EU values and reforms, encouraging them to accelerate their EU integration journey. Cooperation within the EUSAIR framework is seen as a crucial pathway to supporting alignment with the EU acquis, advancing political dialogue, regional cooperation, and good neighborly relations.

The Declaration celebrates the establishment of the EUSAIR Youth Council, promoting youth engagement to counter brain drain and foster entrepreneurial opportunities. It also emphasizes the role of EUSAIR governance projects (FACILITY POINT, StEP, and SP4EUSAIR) in enhancing coordination with EU funding and facilitating regional cooperation. Finally, it calls for stronger EU cohesion policies post-2027 and commits to supporting upcoming Presidencies to drive tangible results, unlock the region's potential, and bring it closer to the European Union.