The final REGILIENCE training session, held in Central Macedonia in October 2025, marked the conclusion of the project’s capacity-building journey. The event gathered representatives from European institutions, regional authorities, academia, and sister projects to discuss practical pathways for translating climate adaptation strategies into local action.
Setting the scene: From Mission to regional action
Irene Bonvissuto (DG CLIMA, European Commission) opened the session with an overview of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change and its connection to the REGILIENCE project. She explained that the Mission has built a community of regions collaborating to test and exchange practical adaptation solutions, developed through REGILIENCE and its sister projects, while the upcoming REGILIENCE+ initiative will continue to provide new tools and knowledge to support them.
Bonvissuto noted that, although not every region can receive direct support at once, the European Commission is preparing a new legal framework to guide adaptation efforts across Europe. Based on tools and indicators developed through the Mission, this framework is expected to be adopted in the coming months. She encouraged regions to start preparing for its implementation, ensuring that future policies are grounded in local realities, and stressed the importance for practitioners to learn from successful approaches in other territories and tailor them to their own contexts.
Tackling river floods through innovation
The first panel addressed river floods and risk management within the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PESPKA). Theoni Giaramazidou (Region of Central Macedonia) presented climate analysis results showing increasing flood risks and medium to high vulnerability levels in piloted areas. Priority measures include expanding water management systems and preventing soil erosion.
Experts from the ARSINOE and IMPETUS projects presented advanced digital twin solutions for flood forecasting and decision support, showcasing how data-driven models can simulate river behaviour and assess its impact on e.g., buildings/infrastructure. These tools, already tested in Greece and the Netherlands, were highlighted as valuable instruments for planning and communication. Participants agreed that such innovations can enhance transparency and stakeholder engagement, but their effectiveness depends on open data access, regular model updates, and strong institutional coordination to ensure long-term success.
Cross-cutting themes: citizens, climate-proofing, and monitoring
REGILIENCE partners then explored how citizen engagement and evaluation contribute to effective adaptation. Joanna Makocka (F6S) shared insights from a year-long citizen survey in Central Macedonia, highlighting the value of public awareness and participation in shaping regional responses to climate risks. Miljenko Sedlar (REGEA) shared how to operationalise the concept of climate proofing (integrating resilience into the design, construction, and reconstruction of infrastructure) and illustrated, through Zagreb’s experience, how investing in resilient solutions leads to long-term savings and reduced vulnerability. Stefanie Bilgram (adelphi) concluded the session by presenting REGILIENCE’s step-by-step approach to monitoring and evaluation, highlighting the importance of adaptable and smart systems that can evolve as new data and insights emerge, and providing a simple guide for local and regional authorities.
Solutions to water scarcity
The third panel focused on water resilience. Panagiota Rakimpei (Region of Central Macedonia) outlined PESPKA’s measures to safeguard regional water resources. Case studies from the IMPETUS, CARDIMED, and HYDROUSA projects highlighted innovative approaches, including the reuse of treated wastewater and the application of nature-based solutions (NbS) for agriculture and energy production. Complementing these examples, REGILIENCE coordinators Guido Schmidt (FT) and other project representatives (IEECP) presented practical resources for regional implementation. Schmidt emphasised the importance of water efficiency and the need for regions to adopt practices that reduce water-related risks, drawing on findings from a report on potential water savings in the EU, developed by the European Environmental Agency. Indriany Lionggo (IEECP) introduced the Quick Guides, offering information to help regions prepare for and respond to specific climate hazards.
Conclusions
The event concluded with Guido Schmidt urging Central Macedonia to continue advancing its adaptation agenda, while Chrisanthi Kiskini (Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia) emphasised the importance of sustained and coordinated cooperation among stakeholders, noting that adaptation is a complex process that can be effectively implemented through collaboration and clear communication with citizens.
The final REGILIENCE training session showcased Central Macedonia’s growing capacity and willingness to tackle climate challenges, setting the stage for continued collaboration through REGILIENCE+ and ensuring that the project’s impact will extend well beyond its official conclusion.
You can check the full presentation here.