Why a kick-off meeting of the Local Stakeholders Group?
On 4 February 2026, the first Local Stakeholders Group (LSG) meeting of the ATLANTIC BRIDGES project was held at Espace NUMERIMER in Les Sables d’Olonne . This kick-off meeting was organised to bring together key local actors and collectively frame the territory’s contribution to this European cooperation project. Indeed, Les Sables d’Olonne Agglomeration is already engaged in major environmental, economic and social transitions.
Therefore, the LSG aims to ensure that these ongoing local dynamics are fully connected to the transnational dimension of ATLANTIC BRIDGES.
In other words, the meeting was designed to create a space for dialogue between local stakeholders and the European partnership, while at the same time clarifying expectations, objectives and methodology. By launching the group at an early stage of the project, the territory ensures both ownership and coherence between local priorities and the broader Atlantic cooperation framework.
The project’s presentation and the discussions
First of all, the ATLANTIC BRIDGES project was presented in its overall context.
As a 30-month Interreg Atlantic Area project, it seeks to strengthen the land-sea relationship in medium-sized Atlantic coastal cities and to accelerate the triple transition: economic, environmental and social.
During the meeting, the local context of Les Sables d’Olonne was highlighted, including flagship initiatives such as the green belt, decarbonised mobility, Port Olona 2040, sustainable housing solutions and major urban facilities .
In addition, the expectations of the territory were clearly expressed: to showcase virtuous projects at European level, to enhance international visibility, and to draw inspiration from comparable Atlantic territories. Consequently, discussions focused not only on the challenges faced by coastal cities, but also on how the LSG could contribute to co-designing a strategic framework and future pilot actions adapted to local needs.
The outcome of our discussions
The first exchanges allowed a wide range of concrete ideas to emerge, structured around the triple transition.
In the economic field, participants raised the issue of seasonal dependency and overtourism, the modernization of fishing vessels, the development of a local REFIT and boat deconstruction value chain, as well as the structuring of blue biotechnology sectors through the valorisation of marine co-products and port sediments.
Regarding the environmental transition, discussions highlighted coastal risks such as erosion and sea level rise, port and vessel decarbonisation, the reduction of microplastics and PFAS in discharged water, and the adaptation to the “zero net land artificialisation” (ZAN) regulation.
Social challenges were also strongly emphasised, particularly year-round housing for families and workers, quality of life on the coast, and participatory governance to better involve citizens in land–sea planning choices.
Overall, these contributions provide a solid basis for the forthcoming territorial analysis and for the future selection of a pilot action aligned with both local priorities and transnational objectives.
And now, what are the next steps?
Following this first meeting, the next steps are both operational and strategic.
On the one hand, the Local Stakeholders Group will continue to meet regularly (every 6 months maximum) in order to contribute to the production of the strategic framework and to feed the thematic work carried out at transnational level.
On the other hand, local reflection will progressively move towards the identification and testing of pilot actions, in line with the project’s ambition to move from analysis to implementation . Furthermore, exchanges with the other Atlantic partners will allow benchmarking, mutual learning and the gradual construction of a shared Atlantic perspective.
Ultimately, the objective is not only to strengthen the resilience of Les Sables d’Olonne, but also to contribute to a more integrated and sustainable Atlantic Area. Thus, this first LSG marks the starting point of a collective journey towards a stronger land-sea integration and a fair triple transition at both local and transnational levels.
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