From 15 to 17 September 2026, Izola (Slovenia) will host the eleventh edition of the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week, a well-established event dedicated to discussing the role of macro-regional strategies and promoting territorial cooperation across the Mediterranean. This year’s edition, entitled “Macro-Regional Strategies in Action: What Becomes Possible”, aims to demonstrate how macro-regional cooperation can generate tangible benefits for territories and local communities.

The 2026 programme will address some of the key challenges shaping the future of European territorial cooperation, including the new cohesion policy, climate change adaptation, risk management, the European Union enlargement process and youth engagement.

The 2026 edition is particularly significant in light of Italy’s recent assumption of the EUSAIR Presidency, which will be represented throughout the programme by members of the Italian governance structure involved in discussions on the future of macro-regional strategies and European cohesion policy.

Within this framework, special attention will be devoted to the panel “EU Macro-Regional Strategies and the EU MFF 2028-2034 – A Strategic Partnership for the Future?”, focused on the contribution of macro-regional strategies to the next European Union Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 and on potential synergies between macro-regional priorities and future European programmes.

As part of this session, Ivan Curzolo, Deputy EU Funds National Coordinator at the Department for Cohesion Policies and representative of the Italian EUSAIR Presidency, will discuss the future of European investments and the added value of macro-regional cooperation in the next programming period.

Particular interest is also expected for the Pillar 2 Transport panel “Integrating Macro-Regional Transport Flows for a Sustainable and Resilient Europe”, dedicated to the integration of transport flows at macro-regional level to strengthen sustainability, resilience and European connectivity.

During the session, Pierluigi Coppola, EUSAIR Pillar 2 Transport Coordinator, will contribute to the discussion on challenges and opportunities for integrated, resilient and sustainable mobility in the Adriatic-Ionian area.

Registration for the event is now open and the full programme is available on the dedicated page of the EUSAIR portal: Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week 2026 Programme.