ENJOYING CULTURAL HERITAGE

EC-day 2018 has been organised for the seventh consecutive year under the auspices of the European Commission and the Interact programme. This year the event took place under the slogan “Painting our future together” underlining the achievements of territorial cooperation and its impact on shaping a common future within European Union and in cross-border areas. The year 2018 also marks the European Year of Cultural Heritage so highlighting how common cultural heritage unites cross-border regions was the underlying theme of the event which has also been reflected in its name – „Enjoying cultural heritage”.

Over 100 participants that gathered at the Monfort event venue in Portorož were greeted by Dimitrij Pur, Deputy Head of the Managing Authority of the Cooperation Programme Interreg V-A Slovenia-Croatia 2014-2020. Mr. Pur stressed out that cross-border programmes play a major role in ensuring a balanced, coherent and sustainable development of participating countries and highlighted their contribution to the European Cohesion Policy goal of advancing economic and social cohesion. ‘’The events of this year’s European Cooperation Day are taking place all over European Union to show that the common cultural heritage unites us’’ added Pur. Alen Malnar welcomed the participants on behalf of the Croatian Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, acting as the National Authority of the programme. Franco Juri, Director of Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum of Piran and Vladimir Torbica, Head of Department for Culture of the Istria County both presented the shared cultural heritage of Slovenian and Croatian Istria and outlined the opportunities for cooperation.

The event featured a presentation of two projects, Riviera4Seasons2 and Mala barka 2 which are co-financed by the Cooperation Programme Interreg V-A Slovenia-Croatia 2014-2020. Both projects are focused on heritage protection, Riviera4Seasons2 builds on preservation of regional heritage by including natural and cultural heritage and events in the countryside into newly formed itineraries while promoting sustainable green tourism. Mala barka 2 focuses on preservation, protection, promotion and development of maritime heritage, crafts and arts in the border area, which also presents a large, untapped tourism potential.

The participants set off to explore Slovenian coast aboard a ship which took them to the medieval town of Piran for a stroll through its narrow streets and a visit to the Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum of Piran where they learned about the cultural heritage of Piran.