From 3–5 November 2025, our team participated in the Kick-Off Meeting of the CO-WATERS Project in Rimini, Italy. The project aims to establish a coalition of waterfront cities, regions, and islands in support of the EU Mission Ocean and Waters. Through this coalition, CO-WATERS seeks to contribute to the restoration of ocean and water ecosystems and to facilitate the transition toward cleaner, healthier, and more resilient aquatic environments.
Over the course of three productive days, partners:
-
Aligned a shared vision of the project’s long-term impact
-
Exchanged initial insights from each pilot territory
-
Coordinated next steps for engagement with key stakeholders
-
Identified opportunities to enhance cooperation across regions
-
Set priorities for the upcoming implementation phase
The Sustainable Development Unit of the Athena Research Center, with Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri as Principal Investigator, was represented by Alice Guittard and Monika Mavragani, who contributed to discussions on local challenges, innovation pathways, and community-driven solutions.
The meeting took place alongside ECOMONDO 2025, where the project team participated in several Mission Ocean and Waters events presenting the Coalition. This provided a valuable opportunity to engage with the broader Mission community and to reinforce our commitment to collaborative action for water resilience.
