Macro-regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days 2025
Description
- 24 and 25 September 2025
- AREA 42, Rue de Palais 46, 1030 Brussels
The EU Macro-regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days are coming back in September 2025! The event will be co-organised, for the second year in a row, by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
On 24 and 25 September, in Brussels, the eight strategies (Alpine, Danube, Adriatic-Ionian, Baltic Sea, Atlantic, Western Mediterranean, Black Sea and Greater North Sea) will come together during a two-day event in Brussels.
What to expect this year?
Many changes are occurring to our societies and the flexible and multi sectoral nature of the Macro-regional and Sea basin Strategies allows them to evolve and respond to new needs and decisions taken in Europe.
In line with the Political Guidelines of this Commission, the priorities of the European Union are quickly shifting, adjusting to global challenges; the EU must enhance its competitiveness, build a stronger and more unified defence, and continue addressing the needs of its citizens and local communities. Last, but not least, the EU should prioritise enlargement as a geostrategic investment in peace, stability, and security of our continent and a geopolitical imperative to gain a greater weight and influence on the world stage.
On 24 and 25 September, at the Macro-regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days 2025, we wish to create a platform for participating countries, pillars coordinators, stakeholders, presidencies and representatives of the EU institutions to engage in discussions about existing and new synergies with an eye on the future. Considering the priorities of the eight strategy presidencies, we will engage in thematic discussions through workshops and panel sessions to identify possible solutions to common challenges and create space for further cooperation opportunities.
Collaboration and exchange are essential to the strategies’ success. As for the 2024 edition, the event will be designed to facilitate networking among attendees and connect with the Commission services during a dedicated “Speed dating with the Commission” session.
As part of the event, the Assistance Mechanisms to the Sea basin strategies and Interact will collaborate to organize a "Cross-strategy Fertilisation Session" with a focus on promoting learning, collaboration, and innovation among the different strategies and on identifying opportunities for joint initiatives and projects.
Have you missed the Strategies Days 2024? Please visit this webpage to know more.
This event is organised in coordination with the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week 2025 in Izola, Slovenia, with the aim of ensuring complementarity between the two initiatives.
Registrations are now open! Register here by 10 September.
Do you have questions about the event, or would you like to receive the registration link? Please send an email to: REGIO-EU-STRATEGIES-DAYS@ec.europa.eu
Find the draft agenda of the event below (please notice the agenda will be continuously updated in the course of next months):
24 September 2025
EU’s water resources are under threat. New Water Resilience Strategy emphasises water security and preparedness to water-related disasters; water cycles need to be restored, and a new water-smart economy build. Macro-regions are facing new challenges, but the cooperation opportunities among countries should be explored to reach together common goals. This workshop will aim at discussing common paths to face water challenges together, with the participation of experts and young people from the regions.
This 90-minute workshop will convene stakeholders to address the pressing challenges of energy security, resilience, and sustainability in light of the ongoing geopolitical landscape and the accelerating impacts of climate change. Aligned with the European Commission’s 2025 Work Programme and the Mid-Term Review of Cohesion Policy, the session will explore how cooperation within territorial and Sea Basins, digital transformation, and targeted investments can support the EU’s climate and energy objectives. Key topics include supporting energy security, enhancing energy efficiency, decarbonisation strategies, and the role of digital technologies, including AI, in increasing system flexibility and competitiveness. The discussion aims to contribute to the strategic priorities of the Clean Industrial Deal and broader EU policy goals for 2030.
This session will focus on current and future examples of successful collective efforts to address security challenges, as well as lessons learned from past experiences. With a strong emphasis on the perspectives of Member States involved in regional cooperation on security, particularly in the maritime domain, this workshop will provide a platform for sharing best practices, identifying future challenges, and exploring ways to enhance cooperation in addressing emerging security threats. Through interactive discussions and exchanges, participants will delve into the complexities of maritime and internal security and explore opportunities for strengthened collaboration to ensure a safer and more secure future for all.
This workshop will explore how Interreg Transnational programmes actively contribute to the implementation of Macro-regional and Sea basin strategies. It aims to raise visibility of the added value Transnational programmes bring, while fostering a forward-looking dialogue on shaping cooperation beyond 2027. Participants will reflect on current successes, identify areas for joint improvement, and generate ideas for stronger collaboration. A key feature of the session will be an interactive discussion with Macro-regional and Sea Basin strategies stakeholders, ensuring a collaborative approach to future improvements.
The workshop brings together representatives from different countries, local authorities, and youth to exchange experiences and best practices on implementing the European Ocean Pact's priority of protecting and empowering coastal communities. Through a combination of presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions, participants will discuss challenges, opportunities, and innovative solutions for coastal community development and gather input on the future EU Coastal Communities Development and Resilience Strategy 2027.
Get to know your DG, create new links and exchange! This will be a moment of matchmaking, exchanging and networking among participants and colleagues from different DGs. From REGIO, to ENER, to RTD, MARE...and many more! Let us know who you would like to exchange with, and we will do our best to take the Commission to the Strategies Days 2025.