Across the region, countries are investing in similar priorities and addressing common challenges. Yet without stronger coordination, these investments remaining fragmented. What could become a shared regional story remains instead a set of parallel national initiatives with consequent missed opportunities. Too often, reforms and investments are designed and implemented at national level, with macro-regional cooperation emerging only as a secondary effect. As a result, their contribution to EUSAIR remains insufficiently visible, coordinated and measurable – limiting the wider impact across the region. Bridging this gap is essential to unlock the full potential of EUSAIR as a tool for cooperation and development.
This is particularly true among candidate countries benefiting of EU pre-accession assistance in their paths towards accession and full membership.
To address this specific challenge, recent work under the StEP project has focused on strengthening the link between EUSAIR and EU pre-accession financial support (IPA III). Through updated analyses, practical tools and targeted guidance, stakeholders are now better equipped to identify how existing IPA III funded programmes and investments can support EUSAIR priorities more directly. This marks an important shift – from general alignment in principle to a more operational and results-oriented approach. At the same time, these efforts encourage closer cooperation between countries, institutions and thematic governance structures, helping to translate shared objectives into coordinated action.
To this end, StEP has provided the following inputs:
- IPA III programmes analysis with alignment update
a comprehensive analysis of whole IPA III programmes, offering a clear overview of funded priorities and their potential connections with EUSAIR objectives. - Supplement on Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes
Complementing the main analysis, this document provides a focused review of the cross-border cooperation programmes among candidate countries. - Guidance document for Thematic Steering Groups
an operational tool that supports EUSAIR stakeholders in navigating IPA III programmes and identifying possible links with EUSAIR pillars and related pipelines. - Guidance document for National IPA Coordinators
a guidance document outlining how EUSAIR priorities can be considered during the implementation of IPA III programmes. - Guidance document for the Performance Assessment Framework with Indicators’ passports
this key deliverable focuses on the development of a shared performance assessment framework correlating the relevant IPA III indicators with EUSAIR.
The development of a strengthened monitoring system, including common indicators between the IPA III result framework and EUSAIR priorities by means of so‑called “indicator passports” is a key step forward. It makes possible to better track progress and demonstrate how IPA III investments contribute to macro-regional objectives. They also help answer essential questions:
- how national investments supported by pre-accession funds in candidate countries contribute to shared regional goals,
- what results are being achieved across candidate countries to meet a macro regional perspective,
- and where cooperation between candidate countries and member states can be further strengthened.
By improving how results are measured and communicated, EUSAIR can make its contribution more visible and strengthen its role in supporting coordinated regional impact. Strengthening alignment with the current IPA III support and improving the way results are tracked, allows EUSAIR to build on its existing achievements and gives the opportunity to further amplify its role as a driver of tangible, measurable impact.
The indicators’ passports offer a detailed and user‑friendly description of each proposed IPA III indicator, and stakeholders are invited to validate them online with the following app: https://eusair-indicator-explorer.lovable.app/
All these efforts are especially important as the EU begins to shape its next financial framework: it’s a key opportunity to ensure that macro-regional strategies like EUSAIR are not only referenced but meaningfully integrated into how funding is planned and delivered.
The Adriatic-Ionian region already has the essential building blocks: a shared strategy, active partnerships, and significant investments through EU programmes and national reforms. The next step is to connect these elements more effectively. Stronger integration of EUSAIR into future EU funding frameworks would not only improve coordination but also make it possible to turn individual national efforts into a more coherent and impactful regional story – one that citizens across the region can clearly see and benefit from.
