EVENTS: Kick-off meeting – University of Padova

On the 12th and 13th of September 2024, the GPP2ADRION project was officially launched with a successful kick-off meeting at the University of Padova, held at Sala Donghi, Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. The event saw participation from partners across the Adriatic-Ionian region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia, underscoring the strong transnational collaboration at the heart of this initiative. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Alessandro Manzardo from the University of Padova, who led the discussions and guided the project’s strategic objectives.

GPP2ADRION, funded by the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme, aims to advance the adoption of Green Public Procurement (GPP) across the Adriatic-Ionian region as part of the broader European effort to facilitate the transition towards a circular economy. Among the project’s prominent partners are high-level public entities such as the Region of Western Greece and the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism of Montenegro, whose involvement underscores the significant regional impact and the political support the project has garnered. These key institutions, alongside a robust network of chambers of commerce, research organizations, and circular economy experts, contribute to making GPP2ADRION a pivotal initiative in promoting sustainable procurement in the region.

Project Description

The GPP2ADRION project focuses on overcoming the barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of Green Public Procurement in the EUSAIR – European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, with a particular emphasis on non-EU countries. The European Commission’s 2017 guidance on “Public Procurement for a Circular Economy” highlights GPP as a critical tool for achieving environmental and circular economy goals. GPP allows public authorities to procure goods, services and works that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecycle, driving sustainable development.

To support this transition, GPP2ADRION will develop macro-regional solutions that foster a common knowledge base across the participating countries. The project’s key activities include the development of capacity-building programs to train GPP Ambassadors, the establishment of regional GPP Contact Points, and the creation of a Transnational Network to promote the alignment of GPP practices across EUSAIR countries. This transnational approach will help build demand for circular economy products and services while enhancing the capacity of public authorities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to implement GPP procedures.

The project outcomes will be presented at the EUSAIR Forum events to public bodies and policymakers from the ADRION countries. This will lay the foundation for a transnational action plan to promote the use of GPP in public procurement across the region, further driving the adoption of circular economy principles.

Kick-off Meeting Activities

The kick-off meeting took place over two days:

Day 1 (12th September 2024): The event was opened with a welcome address by the Lead Partner, the University of Padua, followed by a project overview. Ms. Evangelia Karpodini, Programme Officer from the Interreg IPA Adrion Joint Secretariat, led the session on project implementation, covering key administrative aspects such as the INTERREG IPA logical framework, budget overview, and financial reporting rules. The first day concluded with an introduction of the project partnership.

Day 2 (13th September 2024): Focused on a detailed breakdown of project activities, the second day outlined the next steps for each partner involved. This session set the groundwork for the collaborative work ahead and defined the roadmap for achieving the project’s objectives.

Partnership

GPP2ADRION is driven by a strong partnership consisting of public institutions, research organisations, and chambers of commerce from the ADRION region:

  1. Lead partner: University of Padua (Italy)
  2. Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce (Italy)
  3. Chamber of Economy of Montenegro (Montenegro)
  4. Region of Western Greece (Greece)
  5. Circular Change, Institute for Circular Economy (Slovenia)
  6. Institute of Social Sciences (Serbia)
  7. Chamber of Economy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  8. Business & Innovation Center (North Macedonia)
  9. Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism (Montenegro)

Associated Partners:

This diverse partnership brings together expertise and resources from across the region, ensuring the project’s objectives are met through a coordinated and collaborative approach.

Project Timeline and Budget

The GPP2ADRION project will run from September 2024 to August 2027, with a total budget of €1,179,260.50. This three-year initiative aims to create a lasting impact by building capacity for GPP and fostering collaboration among public authorities, policymakers, and SMEs in the ADRION region.