Slovenian Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region begins

02. 02. 2024

Slovenia officially took over the Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP), with around 100 national and international representatives attending the event. The Slovenian Presidency programme and the main upcoming activities of EUSALP in 2024 were presented.

The event was opened by the State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Marko Štucin, who emphasised, "In Slovenia, we are committed to sustainability and we want to preserve our beautiful nature for future generations. Therefore, the choice of thematic priorities for the Slovenian EUSALP Presidency is logical: circular economy, transition to a water-based modern society and quality of life for young people in the Alps."

The main objective of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region is to ensure that the Alpine Region continues to maintain its role as one of the most attractive regions in Europe, while making the most of its specific features as an opportunity for sustainable and innovative development in the European context. The strategy will focus on areas of common (macro) regional interest.

Priorities and objectives of the Alpine region:

• Accelerating the energy transition towards a carbon neutral region,
• raising the quality of life of young people,
• sustainable water management,
• promoting a circular economy.

The Ljubljana Technology Park will also be involved in promoting the circular economy through its activities, which are the result of the long-standing support of companies for the transition to a circular economy, as highlighted by the Director, Dr Jernej Pintar, in his address.

Majda Potokar said, "As the lead partner of the already completed Circular4.0 project (finalist of the Regiostars Award 2023), the Ljubljana Technology Park has acquired the role of coordinator of the horizontal theme for the circular economy within the EUSALP macro-region. Within the framework of the horizontal theme for the circular economy, the Ljubljana Technology Park will focus on activities to prepare a project for the development of the EUSALP Circular Economy Action Plan, the establishment of the EUSALP Circular Economy Hub and the Alpine Transnational Financial Instruments to further actively support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Alpine region to make the transition to the circular economy as quickly and as efficiently as possible, supported by digitisation. In June 2024, under the auspices of Slovenia's EUSALP Macro-Region Presidency, the first ever award for innovative SME solutions for the circular economy will also be presented for textiles and fashion within the Municipality of Ljubljana (MOL) in June 2024, which will be implemented by the Ljubljana Technology Park as part of the SHARED GREEN DEAL pilot.