Cooperation in Italy and Croatia puts youth in the spotlight with YPACT
14/04/2026
Efforts to strengthen the role of the younger generations in the Adriatic area are gaining momentum with the official start of YPACT – Youth Participation in Cross-border Cooperation for Sustainable Development, following its kick-off-meeting held on April 8, 2026, in Campobasso, Molise.
Organised by Eurelations GEIE (LP), the YPACT kick-off-meeting marked a crucial step in the project’s operational rollout. It brought together all partners to define the project management structure, agree on implementation timelines and clarify expected results.
The meeting also included the participation of institutional actors, namely two representatives from the Interreg Italy–Croatia Joint Secretariat and one from the European Commission’s DG REGIO, as well as cross-border and local civil society organisations such as the Adriatic Ionian Euroregion and Legambiente Molise. Their participation enabled partners to gain a deeper understanding of programme rules and priorities, to learn about the European Commission’s strategy for youth engagement in territorial cooperation, and other cross-border and local initiatives related to the role of youth in sustainable development.
Under Programme Priority 5, YPACT promotes a more inclusive territorial governance system in which young people are recognised as key stakholders. The project provides a platform for young people to better understand decision-making processes, alongside capacity-building and policy dialogues to actively engage with them. A central output is the drafting and implementation of the Cross-border Youth Pact for Sustainable Development. This document, along with its operational guidelines, offers local and regional governments a concrete instrument to institutionalise and sustain youth engagement in policy-making processes.
YPACT is an initiative of a well-balanced partnership. Eurelations GEIE (LP) contributes extensive experience in network building, and capacity building, along with strong expertise in youth engagement.
Formerly coordinator of the DEMY-Coop project, precursor to YPACT, Eurelations GEIE will lead the project and ensure effective project implementation and full alignment with Programme goals. USMA Padova, a medium-sized youth association based in the Province of Padua, was previously involved in DEMY-Coop as a target group and is now a YPACT partner—a clear evidence of the success and continuity of the previous initiative. With more than 780 members and a staff of about 70 collaborators, it will strengthen youth engagement actions at both territorial and cross-border levels. Pi RERA SD, a regional development agency and interdisciplinary institution established by the Split-Dalmatia County, will provide a link to the regional level and will lead the development of co-creation labs focused on the circular economy—one of YPACT’s key subtopics. Additionally, Pi RERA will serve as a connection to the newly established Youth Council of Split-Dalmatia County.
By activating these synergies, the YPACT journey now moves into its first implementation phase, which will see the Italy–Croatia cooperation area as a living laboratory for youth engagement and sustainable innovation.
