GRAAL project approved to strengthen sustainability & cooperation in the Atlantic Area

< Go Back

The GRAAL project is Atlantic Area’s only ‘Operation of Strategic Importance,’ a designation by the EU Commission to recognise the most high-impact projects

08 April 2025 - ERNACT project

The ERNACT network is delighted to announce the approval of GRAAL (Governance and Regional Atlantic Area Lighthouse), a new project co-funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area programme. With a total budget of €4.3 million, GRAAL is led by Cerema (Centre for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and Urban Planning) in France.

GRAAL aims to strengthen the Atlantic Area programme’s contribution to environmental protection, economic prosperity, and climate change preparedness, while improving the visibility, uptake, and policy integration of results from previously funded projects.

The project will develop and implement strategies to integrate project outcomes into regional and national public policies, promote future collaboration through roadmaps, an action plan, and flagship projects, improve coordination among European programmes supporting environmental priorities in the Atlantic Region, and deliver forward-looking proposals to shape future Atlantic Area strategies.

The project will focus on five thematic areas: energy, ocean pollution, climate and risks, nature, and sustainable tourism, and three cross-cutting themes: digitisation and innovation, circular economy, and governance.

“I’m delighted to see ERNACT at the heart of such a key European project. GRAAL gives the North West City Region and other peripheral regions a stronger voice in shaping Europe’s sustainable future” said Cllr Jack Murray, Chairperson of ERNACT and Cathaoirleach of Inishowen Municipal District.

The ERNACT network participates in GRAAL alongside The Commission for Regional Development and Coordination of Lisbon and Tagus Valley (Portugal), Environmental Hydraulics Institute Foundation of Cantabria (Spain), AZTI Foundation - Marine and Food Research (Spain), Brittany Atlantic Sea Cluster (France), Atlantic Cities (France), Ocean Forum – Association for the Sea Economy (Portugal), Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions of Europe - Atlantic Arc Commission (France), Asturian Energy Foundation (Spain) and RDI Hub (Ireland).

"This initiative represents a significant opportunity to reinforce the long-term value of Interreg Atlantic Area projects by ensuring their results inform real policy decisions and foster transnational cooperation. It also provides a platform for the North West City Region to contribute to and influence European-level strategies in sustainability, innovation, and climate resilience” said Dr. Caitriona Strain, General Manager of ERNACT.

ERNACT network member Donegal County Council will participate as an associated partner, along with 11 other associated partners, to support the implementation of project activities.

Click here to email Maixa Zabaleta at ERNACT for further information

Other Stories

AI awareness session for elected representatives & civil servants in Nievre

22 April 2025

ERNACT network member Nièvre Numérique have launched a series of AI awareness training sessions for civil servants as part of ENAIBLER project

ENAIBLER

INNOCAP Partnership meets in Mikkeli, Finland

14 April 2025

Project partners came together to review progress, discuss challenges, and plan the next steps in the implementation of INNOCAP’s four pilot services

INNOCAP

E6 Project partners gather in Nevers (France) to shape circular economy advocacy on EEE

11 April 2025

E6 partners partners, focused on extending the lifetime of Electrical and Electronic Equipment through policy change, advocacy & stakeholder engagement

Councillor Jack Murray Appointed Chairperson of ERNACT Board

07 April 2025

ERNACT is pleased to announce the appointment of Councillor Jack Murray as the new Chairperson of its board.

ERNACT