The Carbon Farming MED project brought together representatives from the European Commission, the Union for the Mediterranean, farmers and researchers from around ten countries in Barcelona to make progress towards a sustainable Mediterranean agricultural model and a carbon credit market.

The conference “Carbon Farming in the Mediterranean” was held in Barcelona on 28 and 29 May 2026, with the aim of promoting a sustainable and resilient Mediterranean agricultural model capable of contributing to climate change mitigation. Organised by the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion and the Carbon Farming MED project consortium as part of the Interreg Euro-MED programme, with the support of the Government of the Generalitat of Catalonia (Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition), the conference brought together high-level institutional and scientific speakers and representatives from the European Commission, the Union for the Mediterranean, several research institutions and the agricultural sector, to share their knowledge and advance common solutions.

The conference was opened by Sonsoles Letang, Director-General for Climate Change and Environmental Quality at the Government of Catalonia, alongside representatives from the Union for the Mediterranean — Dr Nisreen Tamimi, Deputy Secretary-General for Sustainable Development, and Joan Borrell, Deputy Secretary-General for Stability and Resilience — and by Guillaume Javourez, Project Manager at the Interreg Euro-MED Joint Secretariat.

The programme took place over two days. The first day, Thursday 28 May, was held at the Administrative District and was structured around four main thematic blocks, providing a comprehensive overview of carbon farming. The second day, Friday 29 May, consisted of a field visit to the Catalan pilot farm Verdcamp Fruits, located near Cambrils (Catalonia). This farm, which focuses primarily on horticultural and fruit production, is one of the pilot farms of the Carbon Farming MED project and implements pioneering regenerative farming techniques.

The first session of the conference was devoted to a review of the European regulatory framework and the specific challenges facing the Mediterranean region. Valeria Forlin, Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission (DG Climate Action), presented the latest developments in the European regulation on carbon removals and carbon farming (CRCF), a key instrument for encouraging agricultural practices that capture CO₂ from the atmosphere. Alessandra Sensi, Head of the Environment and Green and Blue Economy Sector at the Union for the Mediterranean, then explored the specific challenges of carbon farming in the Mediterranean region, highlighting the area’s unique climatic and agricultural characteristics.

The second session was devoted to the presentation of the results of the Carbon Farming MED project by partners from the BETA Technology Centre, the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA, Italy) and the Centre for Energy, Environment and Resources (Bosnia and Herzegovina). In particular, a platform for calculating the carbon footprint of farms was presented. This tool, developed as part of the project, enables the quantification of carbon stored in soils as well as greenhouse gas emissions avoided. It provides farmers with the data needed to facilitate their participation in the carbon credit market. Agriculture can thus become both a genuine lever for climate change mitigation and a source of additional income for the sector.

The day continued with two panel discussions. The first gave the floor to farmers, with contributions from Eduard Muixach (Viticultors Muixach), Ricard Villanueva (Cooperativa Mas la Sala) and Boris Spassky (GreenPods, France), who shared the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing regenerative agriculture based on their practical experience. The second roundtable focused on financing the regenerative transition beyond carbon alone, with contributions from Valeria Forlin (DG CLIMA), Maria Cruz de Pablo Pecharromán (Triodos Bank) and Ralph K. Rosenbaum (IRTA).

The closing session was led by Luka Štrubelj, from the Legal Centre for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (PIC, Slovenia), who presented the Carbon Farming MED project’s policy recommendations for European and national legislators to facilitate the adoption of this agricultural model across the Mediterranean region.

Beyond the presentations, the conference provided a forum for debate and exchange, fostering the creation of synergies and new opportunities for collaboration between public authorities, scientific teams and professionals in the agricultural sector, thereby strengthening networking across the Euro-Mediterranean region.

The Director-General for Climate Change and Environmental Quality at the Government of Catalonia, Sonsoles Letang

Press Release CAT | FR

L'entrada The European conference ‘Carbon Farming in the Mediterranean’ opens up new prospects for sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.

As of this Monday, the new edition of the Euroregion’s Call for Cultural Projects is open, with a total budget of 120,000 euros. Cultural actors and creative industries in the Balearic Islands, the Occitanie region, and Catalonia have until September 3, 2026, to submit their cultural cooperation projects.

On Monday, May 18, the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion published the guidelines for the sixteenth edition of the APC call for cultural projects.

This annual initiative, now in its 15th year, has proven to be a powerful tool for promoting the heritage that unites the territories of the Euroregion, opening new horizons, and strengthening the Euroregional cultural fabric. Over the years, more than 2.2 million euros have been distributed, and nearly a hundred cultural projects from across the region have been supported. Once again this year, the goal is to support all forms of culture and cultural diversity, as well as Euroregional cultural actors and creative industries; to foster artistic and cultural creation; to stimulate cooperation among the territories; and to promote a Euroregional cultural fabric open to the Mediterranean basin, in a spirit of solidarity with other territories.

Applications must include partners from each of the three member territories of the Euroregion. The maximum Euroregional funding granted may cover up to 60% of the total budget for each supported project, with a limit of €20,000 in grants per project.

This year, the Euroregion will give priority to projects that focus on one of the following thematic areas and incorporate the characteristics listed below:

• The transition of culture to the digital world
• Using culture as a tool for social inclusion
• Integrating the values of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Green Deal
• Exchanges among young professionals on Euroregional languages and cultures
• Activities aimed at developing young audiences
• Promotion of gender equality and emotional, sexual, and gender diversity (LGBTI+) in the cultural sector

To encourage participation from new organizations, the Euroregion has simplified the application process and is implementing various initiatives to facilitate connections among cultural actors within the framework of this call for projects and enhance their visibility:

• Partner search and map of cultural actors in the Euroregion available on our website: https://euroregio.eu/en/partner-search
• WhatsApp group for exchanging information with the call for projects coordinators and cultural organizations open to collaboration. You can join the group here.

In addition, a webinar will be held on May 28 to present the call for projects in greater detail, answer questions, and provide a platform to foster synergies among cultural actors who already have a project idea or are seeking partners to bring it to fruition.

The APC call for cultural projects is part of the l’Euroregió 2030 strategy, which aims to build a strong and resilient future. This initiative is funded by the Directorate of European and International Relations of the Occitanie Region, the Department of Culture of the Government of Catalonia, and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sports of the Government of the Balearic Islands.

All information on APC26: https://euroregio.eu/en/appel-a-projets-culture-2026

Press Note CAT | FR

L'entrada Applications are now being accepted for the APC26 Euroregion’s annual call for cultural projects ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.

Over €2.1 million in European funding has been secured to preserve ecosystems, rethink mobility and support sustainable food systems for the Eastern Coastal Functional Area (AFLE) between the Aude and the Ebro

The Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion announces the 4 projects selected under the second POCTEFA call for projects for the East Coastal Functional Area (AFLE). Following a joint and interregional evaluation process led by experts from both territories, the list of the 4 projects selected under the second call for projects for the Eastern Coastal Functional Area (AFLE) was announced on 28 April.

Launched in June 2025, this call aims to structure territorial cooperation along the cross-border Mediterranean coastline, from the Aude to the Ebro. The call has been allocated over €2.1 million from ERDF funds under the European INTERREG POCTEFA programme and will provide 65% funding for four projects addressing the region’s needs.

These projects are in addition to the 5 projects selected during the first call for proposals in June 2025. In total, the nine projects contribute to the AFLE integrated territorial strategy, which addresses 4 priorities:

1. Preservation and restoration of ecosystems ;
2. Reducing the impact of human pressure (economics activities, tourism, etc.);
3. Sustainable food supply along the coast, promoting the diversification of marine and terrestrial resources;
4. Improving cross-border mobility and intermodality, and promoting soft mobility

The projects are led by a partnership of diverse stakeholders (academia, the private sector, public authorities and citizens) and comprise at least two entities from different countries (Spain and France). They will have a direct impact on the Catalan cross-border coastline from the Aude to the Ebro and will actively involve the local population.

The 4 selected projects are:

1. COSTAFLORA: Deploying an open-air botanical laboratory to restore the region’s flora. Total budget €953,349.85 (of which €619,677.38 is ERDF).
2. MARVIU: Restoring marine life for a viable, sustainable and scalable model of marine restoration. Total budget €1,012,475.40 (of which €658,109 is ERDF).
3. CONTAPLAST: Study of toxic chemicals and pathogenic microorganisms. Total budget €578,296.22 (of which €375,897.02 is ERDF).
4. VIAMEDSA: Strengthening regional strategies to support the economy, agriculture and cultural and gastronomic heritage. Total budget €793,895.14 (including €516,031.82 from the ERDF).

You can also find updates on the progress of the first 5 projects: urban dune restoration, the movement of plastics, sustainable transport via cycling and public transport, the ocean current radar, and research into invasive species.

Press Release CAT | FR

L'entrada 4 new cross-border projects to transform the Mediterranean coastline ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.

Institutional representatives, experts and public officials met on 15 April to share strategies for prevention, adaptation and response to the increase in extreme weather events in the Mediterranean

Yesterday, the city of Palma hosted the High-Level Euroregional Conference on Flood Risks. The conference, chaired by Margalida Prohens, President of the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion and of the Government of the Balearic Islands, established the Balearic Islands as a key reference point for the strategic debate on flood risk management in the Mediterranean region.

The event was organised by the Balearic Islands Government’s Department of the Sea and the Water Cycle, in collaboration with the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion. It served as a forum for effective dialogue between public authorities, emergency services, the scientific community and political leaders. The main objective was to strengthen territorial cooperation and share tools to anticipate the effects of extreme events, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change. This is one of the key priorities of the current Balearic Islands presidency and a major focus of the LocAll4Flood project, in which the Euroregion and the University of the Balearic Islands are participating.

The programme covered risk analysis and assessment, raising awareness among relevant stakeholders, and alert management, with the aim of reducing the region’s vulnerability. Of particular note were the presentations by Ms Maria del Carme Llasat, Director of the Catalonia Flood Risk Observatory, and Dr Pablo Gárriz, Director-General for Emergencies and the Interior of the Government of the Balearic Islands. Alongside other representatives from the Government of the Balearic Islands, the Catalan Water Agency, the Valencian Community, the Occitanie Region and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, as well as academic specialists and emergency service managers, they presented tools, experiences and strategies for addressing flood risks in a more coordinated and effective manner.

Given the increasing frequency and severity of flooding events, as well as the growing pressure on flood-prone areas and public land, it is essential to strengthen planning, coordination and early warning systems across all levels of government. It is also necessary to equip cities and regions with more effective tools. For this reason, one of the central themes of the meeting was the replicability of the solutions presented. The pilot projects developed as part of LocAll4Flood enable methodologies, protocols and tools tested in one area to be adapted and implemented in other regions of the Euroregion and the Mediterranean basin.

Thanks to the added value of European cooperation and the exchange of knowledge between regions, it has been possible to share tools and expertise offering more effective responses to common risks.

This high-level conference is intended to serve as a forum for debate and the presentation of success stories linked to the pilot projects, which are progressing very well and are preparing for the conference on ‘Management of Flash Flood Risk in the Mediterranean Region’, scheduled for 17 June in Perpignan.

The President of the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion and of the GOIB Margalida Prohens  opening the conference.

© CAIB

Press Release CAT | FR

L'entrada High-level Euroregional Conference on Flood Risks in Palma ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.

Local stakeholders call for more resources and recognition for rural and maritime areas at European level

Yesterday, 4 March, the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion, together with ARCA and ACM, brought the voice of rural and fishing areas to the European Parliament to advocate for stable and sufficient European funding that guarantees opportunities and a future for rural and fishing communities, as part of the debate on the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework.

This initiative, part of the Mediterranean Appeal, emphasised the need for the next European budget to preserve the LEADER programme and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) within the structural funds, guaranteeing adequate resources beyond 2027. The aim is to ensure that European funds remain a useful and transformative lever for implementing policies that ensure local development and territorial cohesion in rural and fishing areas. During the day, the fundamental role of Local Action Groups (LAGs) and Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) was particularly highlighted as essential instruments for promoting local rural and fisheries development, based on governance tailored to the specific needs of each territory.

The session brought together representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Committee of the Regions, as well as MEPs and members of the three governments that make up the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion, thereby reinforcing the Mediterranean Euroregional dimension of the debate.

The event was hosted by MEPs Javi López, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Diana Riba. Speeches were also given by Mr. Antoni Grau, Director General of Fisheries for the Government of the Balearic Islands, Ms. Xesca Ramis, Director General of Institutional Relations and Relations with the Parliament for the Government of the Balearic Islands, Ms. Claire Fita, Member of the European Parliament for the Occitanie Region, Ms Meritxell Budó, President of the ACM, and Mr Sergi Méndez, President of the ARCA. The closing remarks were given by the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Mr Òscar Ordeig i Molist.

This day reinforced the Euroregion’s desire to actively contribute to a European financial framework that protects territorial cohesion and supports long-term local development.

© European Union 2026 – Source : EP

Press notes CAT | FR

L'entrada The Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion, ARCA and ACM advocate in the European Parliament for solid European funding for the future of rural and fishing areas ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.

An Erasmus+ project to strengthen the voice of young people and bring them closer to European and regional decision-making spaces

On Thursday, 19 February, the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion officially launched the EYA Erasmus+ Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening youth participation and consolidating spaces for structured dialogue between young people and institutions. The project is 100% funded by the European Union, with a total budget of €59,876, and will last 18 months, with execution scheduled until 2027.

The initiative is led by the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion and is being developed within the framework of a consortium formed by the Catalan Youth Agency and the Balearic Youth Institute. The project is mainly aimed at young people between 16 and 30 years old who are part of the Euroregional Youth Assembly, which will become the central core of the program, although it will also be open to other young people between 13 and 30 years old, as well as regional and European political representatives and associative and institutional actors linked to public youth policies.

The Euroregional Youth Assembly, created in 2023 in line with the priorities defined in the 2021-2030 roadmap, is made up of young people from our territories (Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Occitania Region) with the aim of guaranteeing active participation and youth representation within the Euroregional cooperation space. The new project was born in response to the low participation of young people in decision-making spaces and the perception of a disconnection between young people and institutions. Given this reality, the initiative is committed to generating spaces for meeting and exchange that facilitate dialogue between young people and political leaders, as well as strengthening cooperation between territories and promoting active citizenship.

The project is based on values such as inclusion and diversity, participation in democratic life, promotion of common values and citizen participation, protection of the environment and the fight against climate change. Over the coming months, quarterly working meetings and events will be organised in the territories of the Euroregion, open to those actors linked to the public policies that are being worked on at any given time. The topics addressed will include culture and cultural diversity, sustainable fashion, climate change and other strategic issues for the future of European youth, as well as a visit to the European institutions in Brussels.

Among the expected results are the creation of a multilingual methodological kit and the development of formal political recommendations that will collect the proposals of young people in order to transfer them to institutional leaders.

The first event will take place from 13 to 15 March in L’Escala, Catalonia, and will focus on youth policies. This inaugural meeting, open and participatory, will mark the beginning of a cycle of youth cooperation and involvement and consolidates the Euroregion’s commitment to a youth protagonist, active and involved in building the shared future of its territories.

Press release CAT | FR | ES

L'entrada The Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion launches the EYA Erasmus+ Project to promote youth participation ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.

The AMI Gastronomie project is launched, promoting gastronomy as a guiding principle for sustainable tourism in the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion

On 29 January, the AMI Gastronomie project, promoted and financed by the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion Tourism Commission, launched. This promotes school exchanges between training centers specialized in gastronomy, hospitality and tourism in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Occitania Region. This new initiative under the Balearic Presidency of the Euroregion grants a Euroregional grant of €45,000 for this project that values ​​gastronomy as a key piece for sustainable, quality tourism development rooted in a rich and shared culture.

The training centers that will participate this year in educational and practical exchanges and that will each receive a grant of €15,000 are:

• GRETA Aude Pyrénées-Orientales (Occitania Region)
• Escola d’Hoteleria de les Illes Balears (Balearic Islands)
• CETT- Escola Universitària d’Hoteleria i Turisme (Catalonia)

These centers will develop a series of actions to foster strong Euroregional cooperation and unique cultural exchange. Some of these include specialized training with guest chefs, thematic cooking workshops, the recovery of traditional techniques, gastronomic proposals with local products, exchanges of good practices such as circular or zero waste gastronomy and the organization of gastronomic events.

Each center will participate in the triple commitment: welcoming students and/or teachers from other regions, sending them to other centers and organizing a gastronomic event in their territory open to the public during 2026 and 2027, which will be announced very soon.

The project offers students the opportunity to participate in real projects with a Euroregional and European dimension, while allowing them to develop key skills such as project management, Euroregional cooperation and knowledge exchange. Through this experience, the Euroregion and its Tourism Commission are committed to future tourism professionals, who will contribute to strengthening a shared cultural identity and promoting a sustainable tourism model, rooted in the territory and attractive on an international scale.

Press release CAT | FR 

L'entrada AMI Gastronomie, tourism and culinary innovation led by Euroregional youth ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.

We now have the results of the CREAOCCAT competition with a renewed format and €12,000 in grants to boost the presence of Occitan and Catalan on social networks

The 3rd edition of the CREAOCCAT contest, promoted by the Euroregion Pyrenees-Mediterranean, has closed with a very positive assessment both for the quality and diversity of the proposals presented. In total, 4 projects and proposals were received from 12 content creators, all of them with very interesting and creative ideas, which have highlighted the dynamism and potential of the sector of content creators in their own Euroregional languages, that is to say Occitan and Catalan.

The project Arrels Mediterrànies | Raïces Mediterranèas has been chosen as the winner of this third edition. The winning group will receive a grant of €12,000 (€4,000 per creator) to develop the project throughout 2026, with the aim of jointly creating and publishing a monthly video on social networks that values ​​the cultural, linguistic and heritage diversity of the  Euroregion Pyrenees-Mediterranean. The first content will begin to be posted from January 2026.

This edition of CREAOCCAT, open from September 1 to October 31, 2025, has stood out for its renewed format that promotes Euroregional collaboration and for its adaptation to a clearly growing sector such as the creation of digital content in regional languages. Among the requirements, the mandatory participation in groups of three creators, one from each member territory, as well as the presence of Catalan-speaking and Occitan-speaking creators, stands out. This formula has favored teamwork, the creation of bonds and new partnerships between young people and linguistic and cultural exchange.

The call has also had a very significant impact on social networks, both in terms of the dissemination of the contest and the interest generated by the use of Occitan and Catalan as languages ​​of digital creation. CREAOCCAT has also consolidated itself as a good practice for promoting the presence of Euroregional languages ​​in the digital environment, contributing to their normalization and visibility among younger audiences and on high-profile channels.

The topics addressed by the projects presented revolved around Euroregional gastronomy, cultural and natural heritage, the Catalan and Occitan languages ​​and the promotion of cultural, social and youth activities in the territory.

The competition is part of the strategic objectives of the Euroregion Pyrenees-Mediterranean in the cultural field, which since 2021 has been working to reinforce a strong Euroregional identity, rooted in the common cultural, linguistic and heritage wealth of the three member territories: Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Occitania Region.

Press release CAT | FR

L'entrada Euroregional languages ​​gain digital visibility with the 3rd edition of the CREAOCCAT contest ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.

The Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion is allocating €119,000 to fund seven cultural projects that promote cultural cooperation between the Occitanie region, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands, as part of its 15th edition of the APC call for proposals

The Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion has published the results of the deliberations of the 15th edition of the APC Call for Cultural Projects, which selected 7 winning projects from among the 12 applications submitted. This edition, which marks its 15th anniversary this year, reinforces the fundamental role of culture not only as a tool for representing Euroregional territories, but also as an inclusive bridge and space for cooperation between communities, creators, and institutions.

The #APC25 call for projects ran from June 2 to September 3, 2025, with a total budget of €119,000 in grants for cultural actors and creative industries in our territory. This now well-established annual call covers all areas of culture and artistic expression: performing arts, visual arts, crafts, literature, architecture, heritage, dance, digital creation, and many more. It particularly encourages initiatives that integrate social inclusion, ecological transition, youth participation, and the digital dimension in a cross-cutting manner.

The selection process was particularly competitive due to the high quality of the applications submitted by consortia bringing together entities from the three Euroregional territories. The projects proposed actions in the areas of creation, production, research, dissemination, cultural mediation, and heritage promotion, thereby contributing to strengthening cultural and human ties within the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion. Following the jury’s deliberations, seven projects representing the diversity and cultural richness of the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion were selected, distinguished by their capacity for innovation, their networking, and their territorial impact.

• ARX+ Expanded Archives: dissemination of multidisciplinary contemporary creative projects based on archives and creation of a space for exchange between professionals in the Euroregion.
• TraMeCAC: cross-border artistic and educational initiative exploring Camus’s thinking from the Mediterranean perspective, linking it to the complexity of its heritage and the values of the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion.
• RCMPM: cross-border network bringing together cultural organizations involved in contemporary music creation. It promotes the exchange of artists, works, and knowledge.
• LaboArtMed: interdisciplinary research laboratory in arts and sciences, focusing on climate change and the Mediterranean region. It includes the production, dissemination, and training of street artists, artistic residencies, mediation activities, and public performances.
• SOUVENIRS DE L’OBLIT: construction of a critical audiovisual narrative on touristification, based on visual, narrative, and sound experimentation using archival materials.
• CIDAM: international laboratory for audiovisual creation and development, focused on content rooted in Mediterranean cultures, societies, and heritage.
• Kazaaa x3: creative hospitality and community participation project, based on inviting artists, writers, and cultural figures from the three territories. Each guest is welcomed in one of the other two territories for a structured immersion experience, combining meetings, studio visits, bookstore debates, and participation in local events.

In this context, the APC Call for Projects, launched in 2010 and fully aligned with the 2021–2030 roadmap, has established itself as one of the key tools for placing culture at the heart of the Euroregional project. Complementary initiatives, such as the mapping of cultural actors or the WhatsApp group for the Euroregion’s cultural community, also help to enhance visibility and cooperation between creators, structures, and institutions, placing citizens at the center of a more inclusive, diverse, and connected Euroregion.

Press release CAT | FR

L'entrada APC25: 15 years supporting culture as a tool for cooperation ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.

The meeting with Commissioner Fitto strengthens the Euroregion as a strategic ally for an EU that is closer to its citizens

A delegation from the Pyrenees–Mediterranean Euroregion, led by Margalida Prohens, President of the Balearic Islands and acting President of the Euroregion; Nadia Pellefigue, Vice-President of the Occitanie Region; Jaume Duch, Minister for the European Union and External Action of the Government of Catalonia; and Xavier Bernard Sans, Secretary-General of the Pyrenees–Mediterranean Euroregion, met yesterday, 9 December, with the European Commissioner for Cohesion Policy and Reforms and Vice-President of the European Commission, Raffaele Fitto, in Brussels.

The meeting made it possible to reaffirm the commitment of the three territories to a cohesive and territorially balanced Europe, capable of addressing the increasingly significant Mediterranean challenges.

The three representatives stressed the need for Mediterranean regions to play a more relevant role in both the definition and implementation of cohesion policy in the Mediterranean context. The Euroregion, the only European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) that includes both island and mainland territories and which has more than two decades of solid cooperation, asked the Commissioner for additional means and European instruments to expand the scope of its cooperation projects. It also defended the need for stable and sufficient European funding to ensure balanced territorial development and cohesion among all members of the Euroregion.

During the meeting, the need for specific treatment for island territories was also highlighted, taking into account their geographic uniqueness and associated costs. The delegation emphasised the cooperation between the Balearic Islands and the mainland members, Catalonia and the Occitanie Region. In this context, the Euroregion proposed the creation of a specific maritime and coastal cross-border programme within the future INTERREG POCTEFA for the post-2028 period, including the Balearic Islands. This would make it possible to address shared challenges such as climate change adaptation, coastal management and the development of a sustainable blue economy.

Finally, the delegation stressed the need to move towards a specific status for EGTC staff, in order to ensure more efficient legal, administrative and human-resource management of these cooperation structures, acting as pioneers in this initiative.

This meeting, stemming from Commissioner Fitto’s positive assessment during the Euroregion’s 20th anniversary declaration, served to reaffirm the Euroregion’s intention to position itself as an essential ally and partner of DG REGIO, to bring Europe closer to its citizens, and to ensure that the new cohesion policy incorporates the voice of Mediterranean regions.

Press release:  CAT | FR | ES

L'entrada The Pyrenees–Mediterranean Euroregion defends a more ambitious cohesion policy in Brussels and asserts its role in connecting the EU with its citizens ha aparegut primer a Euroregion.