DECIDE Project Strengthens Regional Cooperation and Visibility Ahead of the 14th Annual EUSDR Forum in Sarajevo

The DECIDE project partners gathered in Sarajevo from 3 to 6 November 2025 for their fifth partner meeting, organised in close connection with the EUSDR Priority Area 8 (PA8) – “Competitiveness of Enterprises, including Cluster Development” and held in the lead-up to the 14th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). This alignment created valuable synergies, providing DECIDE with an excellent opportunity to showcase its results and approaches while contributing to the broader dialogue on competitiveness and sustainable growth in the Danube Region.

Joint photo: DECIDE project coordinators and PA8 Working group coordinators, Copyright: Igor Kovačić (TICM)

Under the motto “Flowing together, growing together”, the 14th EUSDR Forum, hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina during its presidency and held on 5–6 November 2025, brought together high-level representatives from EU institutions, governments, regions, and civil society. The event focused on cooperation, EU enlargement, youth and skills, demographic challenges, and the green and digital transitions — all themes closely linked to DECIDE’s mission to promote Circular Economy Business Models (CEBMs) across the region.

During the DECIDE Partner Meeting on 4 November, partners reviewed progress on pilot cases, assessed readiness levels, and explored opportunities for transnational collaboration in advancing circular and sustainable business models. The meeting also featured a workshop aimed at collecting ideas and input for the upcoming Policy Recommendations deliverable, encouraging partners to jointly identify policy priorities and actionable measures to support the wider adoption of CEBMs across the Danube Region.

The policy recommendations workshop was very productive. Copyright: Igor Kovačić (TICM)

The project partners then took part in the EUSDR Annual Forum’s opening ceremony on 5 November, which included the handover of the EUSDR Presidency, symbolising continuity and cooperation across participating countries. The Forum, held in Sarajevo under Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Presidency, gathered representatives from the European Commission, fourteen Danube Region countries, regional initiatives, civil society, and academia to exchange views on EU enlargement, youth and skills, demographic challenges, and the green and digital transitions. The event concluded with the adoption of the Sarajevo Declaration, reaffirming the shared commitment of the Danube Region countries to strengthen cooperation, promote sustainable development, and ensure that no community is left behind.

14^th EUSDR Annual Forum, Copyright: Igor Kovačić (TICM)

The week concluded with the DECIDE Public Conference on 6 November at the Hotel Holiday in Sarajevo, where the project team presented key deliverables such as the DECIDE Toolbox, Service Catalogue, and Pilot Business Models, alongside discussions on impact and policy recommendations. These sessions showcased how circular economy principles can drive innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability across the Danube Region. The conference served as a platform for interesting discussions, and DECIDE project partners received positive feedback on the pilot cases.

During the Public conference, interesting sessions took place. Copyright: Faruk Ćerić (SERDA)

Special appreciation goes to EUSDR Priority Area 8 (PA8) for their continuous support and commitment to fostering collaboration between projects and policies, especially to group coordinators: Karmen Maričić, Head of the Service for EU Policies of Territorial Cooperation and Macro-Regional Development at the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Croatia, Helia Kovačević Grčić from the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Croatia, Carmen Hawkins, from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg and Alexandra Gölz from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg, who even joined us at the meeting and participated in all of the project activities.

In the meeting, we hosted the coordinators of the EUSDR Priority Area 8 working group. Copyright: Igor Kovačić (TICM)

Through its close connection with PA8 and active presence in Sarajevo during the Forum week, the DECIDE project significantly enhanced its visibility and strengthened cooperation within the Danube Region community — reinforcing its contribution to shared goals of innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability across Europe’s macro-regional landscape.