The 3rd Gathering of the Interreg Euro-MED Green Living Areas Community brought together more than 100 participants from the Mission’s 25 Thematic Projects and 2 Governance Projects in Athens on 22–23 April 2026.
Following previous editions in Turin and Barcelona, this year’s event marked an important milestone as the Mission entered the second half of its implementation. The focus shifted from developing and testing innovative solutions towards transferring successful approaches to new Mediterranean territories and strengthening their uptake through policy and governance.
Over two days, the Community reflected on the achievements of the Mission so far while preparing the next phase focused on transferring successful solutions and increasing their impact across Mediterranean territories.
A growing portfolio of solutions
One of the highlights of the event was the dynamic pitching session, where Thematic Projects concluding in 2026 presented flagship solutions developed across cities, rural areas, islands and ports.
In only a few minutes each, project representatives showcased concrete results addressing climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, sustainable mobility, urban planning, energy transition, citizen engagement and governance.
The session also introduced the new Green Living Areas portfolio video, illustrating how individual project results form a coherent portfolio of transferable solutions for Mediterranean territories. The video reflects the diversity of solutions developed by the Green Living Areas Community and illustrates how they can collectively support local and regional authorities in addressing complex sustainability challenges.
Working together to maximise impact
Another key moment was the Thematic Working Groups session, where partners exchanged experiences around the 5 thematic priorities of the Mission:
- Green Mobility
- Green Energy Systems
- Green & Climate-Resilient Spatial Planning
- Finance for the Green Transition
- Green Community Engagement
Discussions focused on:
- solutions with the greatest transfer potential;
- opportunities to support local strategies such as SUMPs, SULPs, SECAPs and urban greening plans;
- priorities for the development of Joint Technical Papers.
The session demonstrated once again that scaling impact requires cooperation, shared learning and continuous dialogue across projects.
Strengthening capacities
Participants also joined one of three parallel training sessions dedicated to:
- integrating New European Bauhaus principles into urban planning;
- lobbying for policy uptake;
- pitching solutions for investment and funding.
These practical workshops equipped partners with new skills to move from innovative pilot actions towards long-term implementation.
Looking ahead: the ETU initiative
The second day opened with an inspiring keynote by Germana Di Falco, Coordinator for the National Just Transition Fund Managing Authority (Italy), who reflected on the role of Green Living Areas in the post-2027 policy landscape and the importance of systemic approaches to territorial transformation.
The event then turned to one of the Mission’s strategic priorities: the Ecosystemic Transition hUb (ETU) initiative.
The session explored how ETU will support:
- Identifying and showcasing the Mission’s most transferable solutions;
- connecting solution providers with local authorities;
- strengthening synergies with initiatives such as the EU Mission on Climate Adaptation;
- supporting the transfer and uptake of project results.
Participants also heard valuable contributions from representatives of MIP4Adapt, the Green Fund of Greece and the Municipality of Kavala, illustrating how cooperation between projects and institutions can accelerate territorial transformation.
Towards the transfer phase
The Athens Gathering confirmed that the Green Living Areas Mission has reached a new stage of maturity. With many Thematic Projects approaching completion, the focus is now on ensuring that their achievements extend beyond individual partnerships.
Through the ETU initiative, the Mission will help successful solutions move beyond their original pilot territories by supporting their visibility, transfer, and uptake across the Mediterranean. The discussions, exchanges, and collaborations initiated in Athens will continue over the coming months as the Mission enters this exciting new phase.
🎥 Watch the video recap HERE and and browse the photo gallery HERE to relive the key moments from the Athens Gathering.
