Portorož and Piran, 26 September 2018 – Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy (GODC) held an event on Slovenian coast to mark the European Cooperation Day. The event highlighted successful cross-border projects, including Riviera4Seasons2 and Mala barka 2.
Over 100 participants that gathered at the Monfort event venue were greeted by Dimitrij Pur, Deputy Head of the cooperation programme Interreg V-A Slovenia-Croatia 2014-2020. Mr Pur stressed that cross-border programmes played a major role in ensuring a balanced, coherent and sustainable development of participating countries and highlighted their contribution to the headline goal of EU Cohesion Policy of advancing economic and social cohesion. ‘’The events of this year’s European Cooperation Day are taking place all over EU to show the EU citizens that the common cultural heritage unites us’’, added Pur. He was joined by Alen Malnar from the Croatian Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds who welcomed participants. Franco Juri, Director of Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum of Piran and Vladimir Torbica, Head of department for culture of the Istria County both presented the shared cultural heritage of Slovenian and Croatian Istria and outlined opportunities for cooperation.
The event featured a presentation of two projects, i.e. Riviera4Seasons2 and Mala barka 2 which were co-financed by the Cooperation Programme Interreg V-A Slovenia-Austria. The participants set off to explore Slovenian coast aboard a ship which took them to the medieval town of Piran for a stroll through its narrow streets and a visit to the Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum of Piran where they learned about the cultural heritage of Piran.
The events taking place in the context of the European Cooperation Day under the auspices of the European Commission and Interact Programme are being held for the seventh time in a row. This year’s slogan ‘’Painting our future together’’ underlines the achievements of territorial cooperation and its impact on shaping common future within the EU and in cross-border areas.