Hello Interreg Fam!
I’m Riyanka, a graduate in ‘Urban Planning and Policy Design’ from Politecnico Di Milano, and I’m currently an IVY Project Partner at Regione Marche, which happens to be the National Contact Point (NCP) for Italy within the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme.
National Contact Points serve as pivotal liaisons between the programme’s Managing Authority and stakeholders at the national level. They provide essential support in assisting applicants and beneficiaries with information related to national implementation matters. In Italy, the NCP is represented by Mr. Natalino Barbizzi from the Marche Region’s Department of Economic Development, specifically within the Area of European Territorial Cooperation and International Cooperation. I am eternally grateful to have him as my mentor. In fact, I wouldn’t be an IVY if it wasn’t for him having faith in me. He has never failed to support me in everything I’ve wanted to do so far and has always given me the space to shape my own understanding while constantly guiding me through my tasks. My colleagues at the office have also been the nicest people to be around, and it’s always been a joy to sit in my office chair. 🌼
My education and previous work experience have given me a solid theoretical understanding of the EU’s Economic, Social, and Territorial Cohesion Policy. I think that one of the aspects that makes my IVY journey different from most other IVY experiences (other than the fact that I’m Non-European and hail all the way from India ahaha 😊) is that I didn’t have to relocate to another city for my IVY experience. Instead, I got to do it in the city I had already been living in for the past year! Now, this might sound a bit sad considering that I didn’t get to fly to a completely new city, but honestly, it was my biggest motivation. I had already started feeling at home in the charming little city of Ancona, perched on the Adriatic coast of Italy, when I stumbled upon the ‘IPA- ADRION’- IVY opportunity. The region had already won me over, and I was so impressed by it that it had become part of my drive to contribute to its development, and what better way to do it, than working on a project like IPA ADRION heh? Also—zero packing stress, maximum familiarity! So here I am, living my best IVY life, soaking up the Adriatic vibes, and giving back to a place that has given me so much! 🌊✨
About the Programme…
The Interreg IPA ADRION Programme is a European transnational cooperation initiative that connects regions across the Adriatic-Ionian area to promote economic, social, and territorial cohesion. The IPA ADRION Programme spans a dynamic cooperation area comprising 10 countries: 4 EU Member States—Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece—and 6 non-EU partners—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and the third country, San Marino. These countries work together to address shared challenges and foster economic, social, and territorial cohesion in the Adriatic-Ionian region. A collaboration that is very essential for realizing our vision of a stronger, more unified Europe. By fostering collaboration among EU and non-EU countries through collaborative projects, the programme promotes innovation, sustainability, connectivity, and good governance, enhancing regional integration and driving positive change across borders.
Programme Priorities..
The IPA ADRION Programme focuses on four thematic priorities to drive sustainable development and regional cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian area:
- Supporting a smarter Adriatic and Ionian region.
- Supporting a greener and climate-resilient Adriatic-Ionian region.
- Supporting a carbon neutral and better connected Adriatic and Ionian region.
- Supporting the Governance of the Adriatic-Ionian region.
My activities…
In my past two months as an IVY Project Partner, my role mainly revolved around enhancing the communication efforts and visibility of the IPA ADRION Programme. This involves not only supporting outreach activities but also delving into the details of each project within the programme. Through analysing and understanding the various projects funded under IPA ADRION, I’ve gained valuable insights into their objectives, achievements, and the challenges they address. Having the opportunity to understand projects that have already successfully completed the first call, while supporting the ongoing efforts of the second call, has given me a comprehensive perspective on the programme’s impact and progression.
Moreover, I have also been given the opportunity to attend many meetings and events both as part of the IPA ADRION programme and the overall EUSAIR Strategies. In fact, my last trip was to Trieste, where at the Palace of the Presidency of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, I attended the EUSAIR Thematic Steering Group, a two-day meeting on Pillar 2 “Connecting the Region.” While I could go on about all the other events I attended, I think what’s important is to highlight to you that I got to make very valuable connections through all these events, and have started to realise how important it is. I’ve finally started to experience what it’s like to be involved in a community that shares similar values, all working towards the same goal regardless of the diversity of the projects. Even though I play a tiny role in this big bubble of EU-Cohesion Policy, just by being involved, it has left me more motivated and inspired than ever.😊
Looking Ahead..
As I continue my journey with the NCP and the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme, we have a lot in store for the next few months. Lastly the biggest Kudos and thank you, to my INTERREG family, for all your efforts. 🌼🤝I can’t wait to share the next updates with you all soon! #InterregIVY #IPAADRION
For more information about the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme and the role of National Contact Points, please visit the official website.
– Anna Riyanka George, Interreg Project Partner at Marche region – National Contact Point for Italy within the Interreg IPA ADRION programme
