03/03/2026
In the morning, a meeting of the ECoCNetwork (SPF project GO! 2025) was held in Trieste, dedicated to presenting experiences and reflecting on development opportunities in connection with European Capitals of Culture. The discussion highlighted the key challenges and opportunities of such processes through the examples of the European Capitals of Culture Nova Gorica–Gorizia, Trieste, and Carinthia.
Participants focused on the role of businesses in complex ECC processes, where culture intersects with the economy, tourism, and broader social development. They highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors in achieving long-term effects.
Special emphasis was placed on the inclusion of young people as active stakeholders in development. Examples of good practices have shown that the ECC is not just a cultural project, but a platform for empowering younger generations and their active participation in shaping the future of the region.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation between Nova Gorica–Gorizia, Trieste, and Klagenfurt, as cross-border cooperation strengthens the development potential of the wider area and contributes to the formation of a common European identity.
The European Capital of Culture represents an opportunity for a long-term development breakthrough that goes far beyond the cultural sphere. The success story of GO! 2025 was also the reason why Trieste and Carinthia decided to consider their own candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture and to explore the possibilities of strengthening their region with a similar development initiative.
