From 15 to 17 September 2026, Izola, Slovenia, hosted the 11th Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week, bringing together policymakers, regional and local authorities, experts, civil society representatives and businesses from across Europe. Under the motto “Macro-Regional Strategies in Action: What Becomes Possible”, the three-day event focused on how macro-regional cooperation can translate European priorities into tangible benefits for regions, communities and citizens.
The programme addressed a broad range of topics shaping Europe’s future, including EU Cohesion Policy, the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, macro-regional cooperation, sustainable transport, innovation, environmental protection, cultural cooperation, tourism and the green transition. Throughout the discussions, participants highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation in addressing challenges that no country or region can solve alone.
A key highlight of the opening session was the video address by Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms. In his message, he praised the event as a flagship example of multi-level governance and cross-border cooperation, noting that it has become a unique platform where Europe’s four macro-regional strategies come together to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and shape future priorities.
Fitto identified three priorities that should guide future cooperation:
- enlargement,
- stronger synergies between macro-regional strategies and
- concrete results.
He stressed that macro-regional strategies provide candidate countries with valuable opportunities to cooperate with EU Member States as equal partners, while closer coordination between initiatives such as EUSAIR and EUSDR can amplify their impact in areas such as connectivity and regional development.
Emphasising the importance of delivering tangible outcomes, he highlighted successful examples of cross-border cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian region and called for even stronger links between macro-regional strategies and future European, national and regional programmes. As he stated:
“Macroregional strategies must continue turning shared priorities into concrete projects that maximize the impact of EU investment in our regions.”
The discussions held throughout the week reinforced this message. Participants repeatedly underlined that macro-regional cooperation is no longer only about dialogue but increasingly about implementation, investment, innovation and delivering results with clear European added value.