EUSAIR Forum highlights EU-Balkans regional push

During the 10th Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), taking place in Crete under the Greek presidency, North Macedonia will today take over the EUSAIR presidency from Greece, during an official ceremony, CE Report quotes MIA.

It is the country’s first time holding the presidency since joining these regional cooperation formats, with Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani leading the delegation.

The 10th Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), which started on Monday, is part of Greece’s presidency of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) and the Adriatic – Ionian Initiative (AII). According to the Greek Ministries of Economy, Finance and Foreign Affairs, the Crete forum will feature ministerial meeting of the initiative where the Crete Declaration will be adopted, a panel of relevant ministers for European programmes, the presidency handover ceremony from Greece to North Macedonia and a joint press conference of outgoing and incoming chairs.

In addition to the handover ceremony, adds the Ministry of European Affairs in a press release, Minister Murtezani will take part in a Panel of Ministers responsible for European Funds and a ministerial meeting, as part of the Forum's broader agenda on strengthening regional cooperation, connectivity and integration in the Adriatic-Ionian region.

North Macedonia's presidency of the EUSAIR and the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative begins on June 1, 2025.

Greece’s EUSAIR presidency started last year and will end later this month.

The goal of the Greek presidency and the Forum is to strengthen regional cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region, promote the European perspective of the Western Balkans, highlight the role of social cohesion, emphasize blue skills and tackle climate change within the new revised action plan and align EUSAIR with the future Cohesion Policy beyond 2027, according to Greece’s Ministries of Economy, Finance, and Foreign Affairs.

They added that the 10th EUSAIR Annual Forum in Crete will highlight "Greece’s strategic role as a bridge between the European Union and the Western Balkans, and reaffirm the country’s strong commitment to enhancing European cohesion, transnational cooperation, and sustainable development in the wider region."