The Italian EUSAIR Presidency is announcing its Programme and Calendar of Activities for the period June 2026 – May 2027, setting out the strategic vision, priorities and key events for the year ahead.
Assuming the Presidency at a time of significant geopolitical change and renewed momentum for EU enlargement, Italy sees this mandate as both a responsibility and an opportunity to strengthen European integration, territorial cohesion and sustainable growth across the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region. The Presidency will also work to embed EUSAIR priorities into the future EU policy and funding framework.
The Presidency programme presents EUSAIR as a strategic platform for regional cooperation, supporting stronger coordination across governance levels, improved connectivity, social cohesion, innovation and sustainable territorial development.
Particular attention will be addressed at supporting the EU accession process of the Western Balkans, recognising enlargement as a strategic investment in the security, stability and prosperity of the entire European continent.
The Presidency will focus its activities around four strategic priorities:
– European integration and regional administrative capacity;
– Connectivity, security and territorial integration;
– Social, cultural and demographic cohesion;
– Strengthening value chains and SME networks for territorial cohesion.
A cross-cutting objective throughout the Presidency will be to strengthen territorial cohesion, enhance cooperation across sectors and governance levels, foster stronger participation of regions, local authorities, academia, businesses and young people, and better connect strategic priorities with available funding opportunities.
The Presidency will also promote stronger infrastructure and energy connectivity, support business competitiveness, address demographic and environmental challenges, and ensure that macro-regional cooperation delivers tangible benefits for citizens and local communities.
The accompanying Presidency calendar brings together political meetings, Governing Board sessions, Thematic Steering Group meetings, Youth Council activities and thematic conferences that will take place across the Adriatic-Ionian Region throughout the Presidency year, culminating in the 11th EUSAIR Annual Forum, which will be held in Trieste, Italy, from 18 to 20 May 2027.
The Presidency will officially launch its programme at a high-level kick-off event on 28 July 2026 in Rome. The event will gather high-level representatives from EUSAIR participating countries, European institutions and key stakeholders to present the Presidency’s priorities and launch the implementation of its programme. Participation in the event will be by invitation only.
The Italian Presidency is jointly led by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Department for Cohesion Policies (DPCoe) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). It will steer EUSAIR until May 2027 under the motto “Identity, cohesion, European integration “.
The Italian Presidency aims to deliver a pragmatic, results-oriented mandate capable of translating European policies into concrete opportunities for territories, communities and future generations
Downloads:
– Programme of the Italian Presidency of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative (AII) and of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), June 2026 – May 2027
– Calendar of Activities of the Italian EUSAIR Presidency 2026–2027