The 6th Stakeholders’ Workshop of the NEXOGENESIS project marked a milestone in transboundary cooperation, culminating in the signing of an agreement to support the sustainable management of the Nestos/Mesta River Basin.
Organised by the Municipality of Nestos (Greece), in collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens (Laboratory of Physical Geography & Environmental Impacts Assessment) and the Municipality of Gotse Delchev (Bulgaria), the workshop brought together stakeholders from both countries to reflect on shared goals for the basin’s future.
Key Highlights:
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Presentation of Project Results: Participants reviewed the outcomes of the NEXOGENESIS project and assessed the effectiveness of participatory activities conducted over the past four years.
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Signing of a Bilateral Agreement: Representatives committed to using the project’s outcomes to promote sustainable management in the region.
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Introduction of Three Governance Roadmaps: Developed through a co-creative process with local stakeholders, these roadmaps provide actionable steps for adopting and implementing sustainable policies in both the Greek and Bulgarian parts of the river basin.
Policy Priorities:
The newly endorsed policies are designed to reduce water consumption and promote efficiency in both agriculture and livestock sectors. They include:
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Modernisation of irrigation systems
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Replacement of open irrigation canals with closed pipelines
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Promotion of water-saving technologies in livestock farming
The governance roadmaps build on policy proposals validated during the 5th Stakeholders’ Workshop in November 2024 and aim to bring tangible improvements to the management of the water-energy-food-ecosystem (WEFE) nexus.
This agreement is a major step forward in the NEXOGENESIS vision to foster data-driven, AI-supported, and inclusive policy development across Europe’s river basins.