National consultation on EU macro-regional strategies

6. 3. 2025

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs organised the National Consultation on EU Macro-Regional Strategies, which was held at Brdo pri Kranju and brought together representatives from ministries and other stakeholders involved in the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP), the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), and the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR).

faimly photo — National consultation on EU macro-regional strategies at Brdo. | Author MZEZ

The consultation was opened by Jure Vršnak, Deputy Director General for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, who placed macro-regional strategies in a broader European and global context. He highlighted challenges such as strengthening defence capabilities and competitiveness that will shape the upcoming debate on the multiannual financial framework and European policies beyond 2027.

Another speaker at the opening session was Dimitrij Pur, representing the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, which has joined our Ministry in the national coordination of the three macro-regional strategies this year. He stressed that participation in national coordination will strengthen the link with cohesion projects and the territorial approach, while cooperation with municipalities and regions, which are closer to people's real needs, will further increase the visibility of the impact of macro-regional strategies on the ground.

The consultation continued with a presentation of the achievements of the Slovenian EUSALP Presidency last year and the main activities implemented and planned in EUSDR and EUSAIR. Particularly interesting was the presentation of successful projects from all three strategies, which prove that the active participation of Slovenian representatives in the macro-regions brings concrete benefits on the ground.

In the afternoon, a workshop was held, where the participants developed ideas and proposals on where and how Slovenia should use its participation in EU macro-regional strategies to effectively tackle problems that go beyond national contexts, while also pursuing its own interests and potentials.