TRUE BLUE Project
CEI Support to Training and Research to Unlock and Enhance the Potential of Sustainable Blue Economy for Regional Cooperation and EU Integration
The TRUE BLUE project, funded by the Central European Initiative (CEI) and led by the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS, Italy), in partnership with the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI, Slovenia) and the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IZOR, Croatia), focuses on advancing a sustainable blue economy in the Western Balkans.
Through capacity-building activities, the project transfers expertise from Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia to public administration officials in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. This supports their progress toward EU integration while fostering regional cooperation in key areas such as marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and green ports.
As the Albanian partner, InSET (Institute for Sustainable Development, Environment and Tourism) played a key role in facilitating the application and selection of trainees, ensuring alignment with national priorities like the green transition and EU sustainable blue economy strategies.
Beneficiary institutions — including the University of Sarajevo (UNSA), University of Montenegro (UoM), and InSET — contributed to sharing best practices through four thematic workshops coordinated by OGS. These events brought together stakeholders from research, academia, industry, government, and civil society (quadruple helix approach), promoting cross-border collaboration that continues beyond the project.
The project has successfully built a lasting community of trained officials committed to sustainable blue economy practices in the region.
Training of Trainers (June 10–14, 2024)
The flagship Training of Trainers course was held in Trieste (Italy) and Piran (Slovenia) from June 10 to 14, 2024.
15 public administration officials from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro participated in lectures, field trips, and interactive sessions on sustainable blue economy topics, aligned with EU standards and policies.
Highlights included visits to sustainable sites such as the Fonda fish farm (Portorož, Slovenia) and the Port of Trieste.
For more details on the project and this activity, visit: https://bit.ly/3T9T6u1 or the official project page: blueskills.ogs.it/projects/true-blue
Workshop in Albania: Challenges to Achieve Sustainable Blue Economy
InSET co-organized with OGS a key workshop titled “Challenges to Achieve Sustainable Blue Economy in Albania: Prioritizing Water Quality from Green Ports to Sustainable Tourism”.
Held at the Durrës Port Authority Headquarters, the event addressed critical environmental issues, best practices in blue economy sectors, and opportunities for advancing Albania's Smart Specialization Strategy.
The workshop fostered strong networking with related initiatives, including:
Discussions emphasized the importance of integrated approaches, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and innovation to protect Albania's coastal and maritime resources while enhancing sustainable tourism and developing green ports.
This initiative underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to support the blue economy transition across the Adriatic region.