Concept

Map with the cities and themes of the project

Essential overview of the Project

The North-East Adriatic Europe Project starts from the concept that promoting sustainable development means creating contemporary culture.

Culture at 360ยฐ guided by the 17 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Prosperity. The project is carried out between sea and land by 2025 in view of “Nova Gorica and Gorizia European Capital of Culture”. The project starts from Venice and involves the cities of Rovinj, Pula, Mali Loลกinj, Zara, Fiume and Nova Gorica/Gorizia.

Guiding themes of the North-East Adriatic Europe

The multi-year program of activities 2023/2025 includes a series of events addressing the following themes:

A. Culture, Arts and European Heritage – Building on the legacy of GO! 2025, the project promotes the principles of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro Convention), fostering Europe’s shared cultural heritage, heritage communities, intercultural dialogue and the historical identity of North Adriatic Mountain Europe, with a particular focus on Venice and the Veneto Region, Carinthia, Istria, the Karst, Rijeka and Dalmatia.

B. Education, Training and Territorial Cooperation – Promotion of educational cooperation among schools, universities, research centres, businesses, business organisations and public institutions by fostering twinning programmes, mobility, lifelong learning and the development of skills for European territorial cooperation, European citizenship, sustainable development, innovation and the competitiveness of the North Adriatic Mountain Europe economic system.

C. Research, Innovation and Engineering – Promotion of scientific research, innovation and engineering to support the sustainable development of North Adriatic Mountain Europe, with particular attention to infrastructure, territorial resilience, climate change adaptation, the energy transition, digitalisation, community safety, and the development of integrated maritime, land and air transport systems, giving priority to technologies and propulsion systems powered by renewable energy and low-emission solutions.

D. Sustainable Economy, Tourism and Territorial Development – Promotion of integrated models of sustainable economic development by enhancing tourism, the blue economy, the green economy, local economies, logistics systems and territorial connectivity across North Adriatic Mountain Europe, fostering cooperation among businesses, business organisations, public institutions and local communities.

E. Territorial Excellence, Productive Value Chains and Local Economy – Promotion and enhancement of the territorial excellence, productive value chains and local economies of North Adriatic Mountain Europe, supporting craftsmanship, agriculture, fisheries, the blue economy, agri-food production, manufacturing heritage and innovative businesses, while fostering cross-border cooperation, quality, sustainability and internationalisation.

F. European Citizenship, Communication and Territorial Cooperation – Promotion of European citizenship, institutional communication and territorial cooperation through the development of networks among public institutions, communities, businesses, business organisations, universities, associations and civil society, fostering intercultural dialogue, participation, knowledge sharing and the development of intangible infrastructures to support the sustainable growth, prosperity and safe living of North Adriatic Mountain Europe.

Phases of the work program 2023/2027

  • The year 2023 is completely dedicated to the collection of partners, supporters, sponsors and collaboration agreements.
  • In 2024 the organization of specific project meetings, technical assessments and site inspections, school twinning, organizational conferences, promotion and communication activities is planned.
  • For 2025 the program of initiatives, content creation and events in cities will be implemented with the “Grand Tour of boats” (Venice > Rovinj > Pula > Mali Losinj > Zara > Rijeka), with a final stop in Nova Gorica and Gorizia for the European Capital of Cultures 2025. The hypothesis of a “Grand Air Tours” to network the airports of the target cities of the North-East Adriatic Europe Project is also being studied.
  • In 2026, the project enters a strategic development phase, building on the experience gained through cross-border initiatives, institutional partnerships and pilot projects. During the year, the NAMEโ„ข (North Adriatic Mountain Europe) vision is developed as a long-term framework for the North-East Adriatic, promoting the idea of a European territorial community connected by physical and intangible infrastructures, shared cultural heritage, sustainable mobility, innovation and stable cooperation among Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Central Europe.
  • In 2027, the objective is to transform the NAMEโ„ข vision into an operational platform through the drafting and publication of the White Paper, the launch of meetings and thematic programmes, and the consolidation of permanent cooperation initiatives. Particular attention will be devoted to strengthening institutional partnerships, fostering cross-border cooperation and creating a stable network among project partners.

Design work method

The North-East Adriatic Europe Project is developed through a sustainable, inclusive and collaborative design approach that promotes the progressive construction of a European territorial community. The project combines physical and intangible infrastructures, institutional partnerships, cultural heritage and innovation, transforming shared ideas into concrete initiatives through cooperation among public institutions, universities, businesses, civil society organisations and local communities. The working method is based on permanent dialogue, co-design and the gradual implementation of shared proposals. Activities are coordinated with local promoters and thematic working groups operating across the North-East Adriatic, fostering stable cross-border cooperation between Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Central Europe within the NAMEโ„ข vision.

โ„ข NAME (North Adriatic Mountain Europe) is a concept developed within the framework of the North-East Adriatic Europe Project.

Last updated: July 16, 2026