Regional Stakeholder Group meeting #4 in Coimbra region
On January 10, 2025, the Intermunicipal Community of Coimbra Region (CIM-RC) hosted the 4th Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG) meeting under the GOCORE project, gathering key stakeholders and municipal representatives from across the Pinhal Interior to strengthen cooperation and discuss the next steps toward building more resilient communities.
This meeting served as a follow-up to the Peer Review held in Debrecen (Hungary) and was a great opportunity to reflect on the peer recommendations and how they can be applied to the unique governance challenges in the Coimbra Region.
Key Highlights of the Meeting
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Presentation of Peer Review recommendations, with a focus on public participation and governance in rural territories
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Discussion of participation barriers, such as low civic engagement and "participation fatigue" in local decision-making
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Emphasis on digitalisation as a tool to strengthen communication between local authorities and communities
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Strategic planning around the Centro 2030 Operational Programme, to build a collaborative action plan aligned with GOCORE principles
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Sharing of good practices, particularly in the field of sustainable tourism, natural heritage, and digital engagement
Participants reinforced the importance of community involvement in shaping public policy and agreed on the need to foster stronger networks between municipalities and citizens. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue working on the joint governance model for Pinhal Interior, supported by GOCORE’s peer learning and exchange activities.
This RSG meeting marked another important step in the project’s journey to promote bottom-up approaches, improve regional policies, and engage citizens in long-term development strategies.