The Adriatic Ionian Permanent Secretariat wishes to draw the attention of the visitors of the site on the launching of the on-line public consultation on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR).

Please find here below the text of the note by the DG Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission .

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DG REGIONAL AND URBAN POLICY LAUNCHES TODAY THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE EU STRATEGY FOR THE ADRIATIC AND IONIAN REGION

DG Regional and Urban Policy invites all those interested, e.g. private individuals, public organizations, enterprises, civil society, etc., to participate in this public consultation < http://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/pbl_cons_eusair >on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) <http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/consultation/eusair/index_en.cfm>.

The European Council of 13/14 December 2012 has formally asked the European Commission to present an EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region before the end of 2014. The aim of this macro-regional Strategy is to promote economic and social prosperity, growth and employment in the Adriatic and Ionian Region by improving its attractiveness, competitiveness and connectivity. It may also play an important role in promoting the EU integration of Western Balkans.

The EUSAIR concerns eight countries: 4 EU Member States (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia) and 4 non-EU countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia). It focuses on areas of regional mutual interest, and it is structured around four pillars: (1) driving innovative maritime and marine growth, (2) connecting the region; (3) preserving, protecting, improving the quality of the environment, (4) increasing regional attractiveness.

The objective of this public consultation is to gather the ideas of stakeholders to ensure the Strategy is realistic, ambitious in its objectives, and responds to the real needs of inhabitants of the Region and the wider community. The contributions will be further discussed at the Conference organised in Athens, on 6-7 February 2014, and will support the preparation of the Strategy.

The public consultation closes on 13 December 2013, but contributions are welcome as soon as possible.

Please find additional information on INFOREGIO <http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/consultation/eusair/index_en.cfm>.