
President od Dubrovnik Neretva Region Nikola Dobroslavić participated in the meeting of the Steering Committee of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region (EUSAIR) with members of the Croatian delegation on 24 February in Brussels.
The Republic of Croatia from June last year, together with the European Commission chairing the Steering Committee of the Strategy and set up as a priority increasing recognition of the Adriatic-Ionian region in tourism and investment sector, energy and transport networking in the region, and to encourage the development of entrepreneurial skills as an important precondition for economic growth . In terms of project emphasis co-presidency, the project cooperation, focusing on ten strategic projects that have a strong transnational impact on all countries of the Adriatic-Ionian region. The Steering Committee determines the general criteria used for the selection of projects within the thematic areas or pillars of the Strategy.
President Dobroslavić stressed the need to involve regional and local governments in the implementation of Strategy and addressed the issue of incomplete integration in the framework of transport routes, primarily the Adriatic-Ionian highway, and the development of port and hinterland which would primarily Republic of Croatia strongly positioned within the EU as well as energy and transport hub.
The meeting also discussed the organization of the Annual Strategy Forum which will be held this year on 12th-13th May in Dubrovnik. The Forum will, with high-level representatives of the European Commission to bring together foreign ministers and ministers for EU funds participating countries Strategy, stakeholders from ministries, local and regional government, education and scientific research institutions, private sector, civil society and others. Forum will discuss the implementation of the Strategy within the four pillars; blue growth, connecting the region, the quality of the environment and sustainable tourism.
