A Macro-Regional Blueprint for the Future

The Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week concluded with a strong call for deeper cooperation across Europe’s macro-regions to address rural depopulation, skills shortages, ecological challenges, and investment gaps. The event highlighted innovative solutions that place local communities at the heart of Europe’s green and digital transition.

17.09.2025 | News

It showcased how cross-border cooperation is driving innovation and sustainability across Europe’s macro-regions. The event emphasized that shared challenges require shared solutions, with communities, institutions, and sectors working together to build resilience and competitiveness.

The Horizon SmartEra project is pioneering approaches to rural transformation. By combining digital tools, community engagement, and governance models into “smart innovation packages,” SmartEra helps villages tackle depopulation, foster entrepreneurship, and improve quality of life. With partners spanning multiple countries and regions, it demonstrates how local action can be scaled into European solutions.

The GROWTH4BLUE project (Interreg IPADRION 2021-2027) is addressing critical skills shortages in the blue economy of the Adriatic-Ionian region. Through a transnational network and an AI-powered platform, it connects labor market needs with skilled professionals, aligning education, training, and innovation. The initiative strengthens “blue human capital” and ensures the sector can adapt to environmental and technological change.

Sessions on ecological connectivity highlighted the importance of ecological corridors as the backbone of green infrastructure. These cross-border links protect biodiversity, restore habitats, and improve climate resilience. Achieving this requires both strategic policies and active involvement from local communities to overcome barriers and embed ecological values into development planning.

The Blue Bioeconomy Forum explored the creation of a Blue Bioeconomy Acceleration Facility to streamline permitting, financing, and innovation support for biotech ventures. By connecting fragmented initiatives and resources, the facility would accelerate sustainable growth and unlock new opportunities in the blue bioeconomy.

Together, these initiatives form a macro-regional blueprint for the future. Whether revitalizing rural villages, skilling maritime professionals, protecting ecosystems, or fostering innovation, the common denominator is cooperation. At the macro-regional level, networks are large enough to address shared challenges yet focused enough to build trust and deliver results.

This collective effort proves that investing in cross-border collaboration is the most effective path toward a more integrated, sustainable, and resilient Europe.