The 10th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) was held in Georgioupolis, Crete, on 6–7 May 2025, under the slogan “Bridging Horizons: Strengthening Cooperation, Resilience and Cohesion in the Adriatic-Ionian Region.” Organised by the Hellenic Republic, the Forum marked a pivotal milestone in regional cooperation, bringing together over 400 participants from across the Adriatic-Ionian Region—including government officials, regional and local representatives, entrepreneurs, researchers, civil society, youth, and international partners.

The Crete Declaration has been adopted on the 6 of May 2025 by the high-level political representatives of the AII/EUSAIR participating countries following the 10th Adriatic Ionian Council / EUSAIR Ministerial meeting.

The Hellenic Ministry of Culture, in the framework of the Hellenic Chairmanship of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII) and the Hellenic Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR), is organizing a conference on “Climate Resilience Policies for Coastal Cultural Heritage in the Adriatic-Ionian Region”, which will take place in Kastoria, Greece, from 16 to 18 May 2025.

The event will focus on the challenges posed by climate change to cultural heritage located along coastlines or underwater, with the aim of contributing to the development of effective prevention and adaptation strategies and enhancing cooperation among the countries of the Adriatic-Ionian Region.

Main themes of the conference include:

  • Predicting and assessing the impacts of climate change on coastal cultural heritage;

  • Building protection and adaptation strategies;

  • Promoting cultural heritage as a resource for climate mitigation and sustainable development.

The conference will also explore best practices, local knowledge and innovation in the field, and opportunities for cross-border collaboration in emergency response and resilience building.

Provisional Programme:

Friday, 16 May 2025
Arrival of participants in Kastoria
Cultural visit to the Byzantine Museum and traditional districts of Kastoria
Boat tour on Lake Orestiada
Welcome dinner

Saturday, 17 May 2025
Conference at Esperos Palace Luxury & Spa Hotel
Keynote speeches, presentations by EUSAIR countries and experts

Sunday, 18 May 2025
Round table and workshop at the Tsiatsiapa Mansion
Closing discussion and departure

The city of Kastoria, with its rich cultural and natural heritage, offers a symbolic and relevant setting for this event. Surrounded by mountains and situated on the shores of Lake Orestiada, it is home to a variety of historical monuments and archaeological sites that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

All interested stakeholders are kindly invited to save the date and take part in this important regional initiative.

On behalf of the Hellenic Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and lonian Region (EUSAIR) and the Adriatic-lonian Initiative, we are honored to invite you to the 10th EUSAIR Annual Forum, taking place on May 6-7, 2025, at the Pilot Beach Resort in Georgioupolis, Crete.

Within the framework of the Greek Chairmanship of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII) (01.06.2024–30.05.2025), an event on “The decarbonisation of shipping and the role of ports in the Adriatic-Ionian region” was successfully held on 29 April 2025 at the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy in Piraeus, Greece.