Natural and cultural heritage in coastal regions
On 27 October 2022, the Policy Learning Platform organised an onsite workshop and a study visit on ‘Natural and cultural heritage in coastal regions’ in the Côte d’Azur in France.
The event was hosted by the Municipality of Cagnes-sur-Mer and put the spotlight on maritime heritage and the environmental pressures that challenge coastal regions.
More than 50 policymakers from across Europe were present and able to exchange their good practices and policy changes and network with their homologues from other European regions.
What was the workshop about
The coastline of EU member states and the United Kingdom is 68,000 km long and nearly half of the EU population lives less than 50 km away from the sea. Many more spend their holidays at the sea.
The tourism sector in coastal regions generates EUR 183 billion in gross value added and employs over 3.2 million people representing more than 1/3 of the maritime economy.
Coastal and marine regions are, however, under numerous environmental pressures, which have significant impacts on local natural and cultural heritage. In light of these challenges, the workshop addressed two specific questions:
- How can coastal communities preserve their tangible and intangible maritime heritage and create new opportunities for growth and employment?
- How can coastal regions counteract the environmental pressures such as coastal erosion, light pollution and marine litter that are damaging human beings, animals and entire ecosystems?
The workshop offered interregional learning and exchange of experience showcasing a successful example of policymakers, scientists, communities and citizens getting involved in the creation of sustainable, resilient seas and coastal regions.
To learn more about this topic, explore the follow-up brief our experts have prepared for you. It contains insights into natural and cultural heritage in coastal regions as well as inspiring Interreg Europe good practices and policy recommendations.
Workshop agenda
- Welcome and Introduction by Astrid Severin and Magda Michaliková
- Opening by the host Louis Nègre, Mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer
- Welcome by the Interreg Europe National Point of Contact Patricia di Biase
- Patrick Rang, Estonian War Museum, General Laidoner Museum (CDETA)
- Tamara Nikolić Derić, Association House of Batana (CD-ETA)
- Alana Green, Donegal County Council (HERICOAST)
- Tiny Maenhout and Gerard van Keken, City of Middelburg (CHERISH)
- Isabelle Poitou, Association MerTerre (CAPONLITTER)
- Pauline Chevalier, Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur, (Blue Green City)
- Nil Alvarez Segura, Eurecat Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya (Land Sea)
- Sofia Savova, Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency (SZ REDA) (PLASTECO)
- Mariame Ammour, Interreg Europe Secretariat
- Bernard Massabo, Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis / Euromed Cities Network (Blue Green City)
- Alexandra Maccario, Municipality of Cagnes-sur-Mer
