Activities continue within the CONNECT project (Cooperative Networks for Cross-Border Engagement, Climate Adaptation and Territorial Resilience), funded by the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and the Mission Opérationelle Transfrontalière (MOT) as part of the Resilient Borders – Cross-Border Spatial Planning & Crisis Management program. Following the first workshop held on May 28, the second meeting, organized by EGTC GO and ISIG, took place on Wednesday, July 16 at the EGTC GO headquarters in Gorizia.

The CONNECT project involves the preparation, sharing, and potential adoption of a common strategy and joint protocols for the management of climate and environmental crises that may have cross-border impacts. The strategy and protocols must be based on the experiences, knowledge, and needs expressed by the various stakeholders involved in the project activities. The main objective of the project is therefore to strengthen and further develop territorial and community resilience in the cross-border area between Italy and Slovenia. Given this goal, the involvement of key stakeholders from the cross-border area—who were also invited to participate in the second workshop to share their experiences and express their visions and needs—is of strategic importance.

At the beginning of the workshop, project manager Federica Gallus (EGTC GO) briefly introduced the CONNECT pilot action, in order to present the project’s aims to stakeholders who had not had the opportunity to attend the first meeting. Afterwards, data collected in May and reprocessed by ISIG—who once again coordinated the event—were presented, actively engaging participants and collecting their input and expectations. The stakeholders present—coming from associations, public institutions, and the third sector—responded enthusiastically to the prompts and questions posed by ISIG and EGTC GO.