By: Diana Barbarić
The European Ocean Days took place in Brussels, March 2 - 6, with a series of dynamic and interconnected short events focused on key ocean-related topics, in order to encourage participants engagement in different topics and contributing to a shared vision of prosperity, competitiveness, security and ocean sustainability.
They brought together representatives of European institutions, the scientific community, businesses, investors, civil society and youth, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and accelerating implementation of European priorities in the field of seas and waters. The event was opened by European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, also addressed the attendees. Central theme of this year's Ocean Days is implementing the European Ocean Pact, a strategic framework connecting EU policies related to marine protection, sustainable resource management and strengthening resilience of coastal areas. Discussions focused on concrete steps to strengthen coordination between environmental protection policies, fisheries, research and innovation, as well as developing blue economy.
During European Ocean Days 2026, researchers from University of Split’s Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy (FGAG Split) and collaborators from Split-Dalmatia County participated in presenting results of joint work on the scientific research project from EU’s Horizon Europe program A-AAGORA, full name "Blueprint for Atlantic-Arctic Agora on cross-sectoral cooperation for restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems and increased climate resilience through transformative innovation".
Project’s total value is € 9,778,174.76. FGAG Split’s researchers prof. Martina Baučić Ph.D., prof. Nikša Jajac Ph.D., assoc. prof. Samanta Bačić Ph.D. and Frane Gilić Ph.D. were part of a multidisciplinary consortium of 30 partners with complementary expertise in policy, management, ecology, environmental economics, stakeholder engagement, technology development, business and international forums.
For the purpose of implementing this project, capacities of Scientific-Research and Artistic Logic Unit (ZIU LC) for GIS research and decision support modeling with FGAG Split’s associated laboratory with research equipment of were used. The establishment and equipping of this and 10 other ZIU LC units in the framework of the implemented organizational reform of scientific research and artistic activities, was financed and independently implemented by FGAG Split, in a previous, other, EU project worth slightly more than is € 11 million.
Photo: EU, FGAG
