Crete hosts Euracademy Summer Academy in Anogeia

The Crete Region hosted members of the Euracademy Association in Anogeia for the 23rd Euracademy Summer Academy. Held in the Psiloritis region, the event brought together representatives and stakeholders from Greece and across Europe.

The theme of the academy focused on ‘Protected Areas: Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Rural Development’. Giorgos Alexakis, the Regional Councilor for European and International Affairs, emphasized the need to balance environmental protection with the economic and social requirements of local communities. He advocated for a shift from the concept of ‘protection versus development’ toward ‘protection through sustainable development’.

The event highlighted Crete’s interconnected nature of landscape, culture, and agriculture. The region noted its active participation in over 10 European networks, such as Euromontana and AREPO, and its involvement in more than 80 European projects addressing climate resilience, regenerative tourism, and digital transformation in rural areas.