The Coordinator of EUSAIR Pillar 1 (Blue Sustainable Economy), Dr. Michael Chatziefstathiou, has officially announced the online Information Day titled:
“Blue Skills Pact in EUSAIR Information Day”
📅 20 March 2026
🕙 10:00–13:00 CET
💻 Online event (registration required)
The event represents the final public consultation phase for the establishment of the Regional Skills Partnership for Sustainable Blue Economy in EUSAIR, developed under the framework of the Pact for Skills.
Background
The initiative builds on the high-level event organised under the auspices of the Hellenic Presidency on 10 December 2024 in Piraeus (Greece), which gathered more than 90 participants from across the Adriatic–Ionian region. During that meeting, the Pillar 1 Coordinators were authorised to prepare a draft document outlining the Blue Skills Regional Partnership.
Following extensive stakeholder consultations through a series of meetings, the final draft of the Pact has now been prepared and is ready for presentation and public discussion.
The draft document, titled “Regional Skills Partnership for Sustainable Blue Economy in EUSAIR” (February 2026), sets out a strategic mid- and long-term framework for strengthening blue skills across the region. For downloading the document, click on the LINK.
Why the Blue Skills Pact Matters
The Blue Skills Pact aims to:
Bring together businesses, social partners, VET and higher education providers, clusters, regional and municipal authorities, research institutions and NGOs
Support coordinated reskilling and upskilling of the Adriatic–Ionian workforce
Address skills gaps linked to the green and digital transition
Strengthen resilience and competitiveness of the Blue Sustainable Economy ecosystem
Embed new blue skills into formal education systems and lifelong learning pathways
The Pact responds to major challenges facing the blue economy sector, including technological evolution, environmental pressures, workforce shortages, and the need for stronger cooperation between education, industry, and public authorities
What Will Happen During the Information Day
The Information Day will:
Present the final draft of the Pact
Allow stakeholders to propose minor amendments
Confirm willingness to participate and authorise the use of institutional names and logos
Explain the procedure for submitting the Partnership Template
Clarify the steps for official adoption by the European Commission
The event is open to all interested stakeholders from the Adriatic–Ionian region and beyond, but registration is mandatory.
🔗 For registration, click on the LINK
As this is a cross-pillar initiative, stakeholders are encouraged to forward the invitation to relevant networks, institutions, clusters, and businesses.
Governance and Next Steps
The draft Pact foresees:
A rotating Chairmanship system (six-month terms)
Possible establishment of a permanent Secretariat
Creation of an Advisory Council composed of EUSAIR Pillar Coordinators
Monthly coordination meetings and semester-level assemblies
Progressive development of joint flagship projects and funding applications
By 2030, the Pact aims to systematically assess and address blue skills gaps, promote blended training concepts, increase certification rates, and enhance the integration of green and digital competences into blue professions.
Note
This activity is directly aligned with SKILLS project Deliverable D.2.3.3 – Coordination meetings with EUSAIR Pillar 1 – Blue Growth Coordinators and TSG.
Through continuous coordination with EUSAIR Pillar 1 structures — initiated already in June 2023 — the SKILLS project contributes to the smooth transfer and capitalisation of project outcomes across the entire Adriatic–Ionian region.
The Blue Skills Pact represents a concrete policy-level framework through which SKILLS results, innovative learning modules, and regional capacity-building activities can be embedded into the broader macro-regional governance and skills agenda.
For more information on EUSAIR, visit:
https://www.adriatic-ionian.eu