The fourth meeting of the Pillar 5 Thematic Steering Group, within the framework of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic – Ionian Region (EUSAIR), took place in Sarajevo on 21–22 April 2026.
The meeting was organised by the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of Croatia – Directorate for EU Programmes, in cooperation with counterparts from the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, acting as joint coordinators of Pillar 5 – Enhanced Social Cohesion.
Participants included members of the Pillar 5 Thematic Steering Group from seven countries of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region, as well as representatives of the European Commission.
During the first day, an overview of ongoing activities was presented, including cooperation with other EUSAIR thematic groups, developments at the Governing Board level, and progress related to the Youth Council.
Initial findings of the thematic study Skills for a Competitive and Resilient Adriatic-Ionian Region were presented at the meeting. Emphasis was on skills development as a key prerequisite for employability, social inclusion and sustainable development of the region, which is also in line with the objectives of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
The Pillar 5 EUSAIR flagship initiatives were presented, including EUSAIR Youth Entrepreneurship Alliance, Social Innovations for an Ageing Population and EUSAIR Skills Alliance for the Future. Their future development and implementation pathways were further explored through an interactive workshop led by the Pillar 5 thematic expert, encouraging an exchange of insights, experiences, and proposals among participants.
On the second day, 22 April, a study visit was organised to Youth Centre Vila Braun and FabLab Sarajevo, where examples of best practice were presented. These focused on skills development, youth employability, and their integration into the labour market, including the CiNS4YOUTH project.
