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On 6 May 2026, Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto officially launched the Right to Stay – Your Region, Your Future strategy at a high-level event in the European Parliament. This flagship policy framework aims to ensure that all Europeans can remain and build their future where they call home, rather than being forced to leave due to economic decline, lack of opportunities, or shrinking public services. The strategy is anchored in the EU’s 2024–2029 political priorities and the findings of the Letta Report, which highlighted how growing regional divides risk pushing people, particularly young workers, to abandon their hometowns. The strategy will:
- showcase EU policies, programmes and initiatives that help ensure the right to stay
- highlight examples of regional and local solutions
- provide suggestions on how to make EU regions and territories more attractive and competitive.
Demographic challenges, depopulation, brain drain, and territorial imbalances have also been among the priorities and topics addressed by recent EUSAIR Presidencies and across several EUSAIR activities. In this context, the “Right to Stay” concept is highly relevant for the Adriatic-Ionian region, as it directly contributes to addressing demographic challenges and strengthening territorial cohesion and long-term regional development.
The European Commission has now launched the Call for Evidence for the future Right to Stay Strategy, with a deadline of 12 June 2026 (midnight Brussels time). The Call for Evidence represents the first stage in the development of the future Right to Stay Strategy. At this stage, the European Commission is collecting experiences, evidence, challenges, examples of good practice and policy suggestions from stakeholders across Europe. The feedback received will help shape the content and priorities of the future strategy, which will be developed by the Commission in the coming months.
Given the strong relevance of this topic for the Adriatic-Ionian region, we would encourage National Coordinators, Pillar Coordinators and other EUSAIR stakeholders to consider submitting feedback and sharing their experiences. In particular, this is an opportunity to highlight the contribution of macro-regional cooperation to addressing demographic challenges, strengthening territorial cohesion, improving access to opportunities and services, and enhancing the attractiveness and resilience of regions.
Contributors may wish to draw attention to the experience of EUSAIR in promoting cooperation-based solutions across borders, supporting integrated territorial development, strengthening capacities and governance, and creating conditions that help people build their future within the region. Input from EUSAIR stakeholders can help ensure that the added value of macro-regional cooperation is recognised and reflected in the future EU policy framework.
You can submit your contribution HERE.