Adriatic-Ionian sustainable development initiatives

Regional initiatives in the Adriatic-Ionian area are advancing sustainable mobility, tourism, and climate resilience through cross-border cooperation.

The CYROS project, a joint Italian-Croatian initiative, has concluded its efforts to develop a cycling corridor. Key developments include a new regulatory framework, the installation of 18 service stations across locations such as Dubrovnik and Korčula, and the establishment of a ‘Bike&Bus’ line providing free service between Trieste and Poreč. Additionally, the project tested the integration of bicycle transport with high-speed passenger catamarans on the Cesenatico–Rovinj line.

Parallel efforts include the ADRIAMOVE project, which aims to reduce car dependence in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro by promoting electric mobility, such as electric buses and bike-sharing systems.

Complementing these mobility efforts, the AdriaClimPlus project has concluded, focusing on strengthening climate change resilience. This initiative utilized scientific research, climate modeling, and remote sensing to provide coastal communities with tools to adapt to environmental changes.

Recent developments in Slovenia show the Ljubljana Urban Region Regional Development Agency is implementing a unified regional e-bike rental system. In partnership with Nomago, the project aims to connect at least 21 municipalities by 2028 through a network of 549 e-bikes and 854 docking stations, with expansions into Trzin and Komenda underway.

In Croatia, progress on electric bus infrastructure in Rijeka has faced a setback. The State Commission for Supervision of Public Procurement Procedures annulled the selection of Intis Engineering for a 1.55 million euro project following an appeal by Končar regarding technical compliance. The local utility, Autotrolej, is required to re-evaluate bids for the electrical infrastructure and new transformer station.