he Atlantic Bridges project’s partners gathered for the first time in Spain in october 2025. Let’s look back at this first important meeting !
Why a meeting in Coruña ?
The ATLANTIC BRIDGES project officially started with a Kick-off Meeting held in A Coruña on 16 October 2025, hosted by the Lead Partner, Eixo Atlántico.
This first in-person gathering marked the operational launch of the project : “ATLANTIC BRIDGES: Building a Reliable Common Identity towards a Global Urban Sustainable Development in the Atlantic .”
Bringing together representatives from all partner organisations across Spain, France, Ireland and Portugal, the meeting provided the opportunity to align on the project’s strategic objectives, governance structure, work plan, budget allocation and first implementation steps. As Lead Partner, Eixo Atlántico ensured the coordination of discussions related to the establishment of supporting groups, thematic working groups (ecological, economic and social transition), communication obligations and financial-administrative procedures under the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme.
Holding the Kick-off Meeting in A Coruña was both symbolic and strategic. Located at the heart of the Atlantic cooperation area, the city reflects the project’s core philosophy: strengthening the land-sea relationship and fostering transnational cooperation among medium-sized Atlantic coastal territories. The meeting laid the foundations for effective collaboration over the 30-month implementation period (October 2025 – March 2028) and set the course toward building a more resilient, sustainable and integrated Atlantic urban space.
The meeting and the discussions
The Kick-off Meeting took place in the Coruna’s municipality and provided a structured framework for strategic and operational exchanges among partners. Discussions focused on clarifying the project’s intervention logic, confirming the governance structure and organising the coordination of the thematic working groups dedicated to the ecological, economic and social transitions .
Partners also addressed key implementation milestones for the first semester, notably the creation of local supporting groups, the launch of the thematic working groups, and the preparation of the initial analytical studies that will underpin the future local action plans . Particular attention was given to financial management procedures, reporting obligations and communication requirements under the Interreg Atlantic Area framework, ensuring a common understanding of compliance rules from the outset .
Beyond technical coordination, the meeting allowed partners to express their expectations, identify potential stakeholders in other Atlantic territories, and discuss the format and calendar of upcoming study visits, seminars and forums. These exchanges reinforced the shared commitment to building a coherent and results-oriented transnational cooperation process aligned with the project’s objective of fostering sustainable urban development through a strengthened land-sea relationship .
And now, what are the next steps ?
Following the Kick-off Meeting, partners agreed on a clear roadmap for the first phase of implementation. By December 2025, all partners will establish their local supporting groups and organise meetings to engage key territorial stakeholders in the project process . In parallel, the three thematic working groups will be formally launched, ensuring coordinated technical work across the consortium.
By the 1st semester of 2026, partners are expected to complete their territorial analytical studies and define priorities that will guide the development of local action plans . These analytical foundations will feed into the strategic framework on land-sea integration and urban resilience, which constitutes a core deliverable of the project .
At the same time, communication and administrative procedures are being activated. The project visual identity, website and mandatory communication materials are being prepared in line with the Interreg Atlantic Area visibility rules , while contractual and financial processes are being finalised in accordance with the Programme Manual provisions .
These immediate steps will ensure that ATLANTIC BRIDGES moves swiftly from strategic alignment to operational delivery, establishing a solid basis for the pilot actions and transnational exchanges planned throughout 2026–2028.
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