EU Programme
Interreg IPA-ADRION

The GPP2ADRION project aims to strengthen the adoption of Green Public Procurement (GPP) across the EUSAIR regions by addressing key structural and operational barriers that hinder the transition towards a circular economy. In line with European Commission guidelines, the project highlights the strategic role of GPP as a policy lever to reduce environmental impacts across the full life cycle of public procurement and to support the achievement of the European Union’s environmental and circular economy objectives.

Lead Partner

University of Padova (Italy)

Other Partners

Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce (Italy)
Chamber of Economy of Montenegro (Montenegro)
Region of Western Greece (Greece)
Circular Change, Institute for Circular Economy (Slovenia)
Institute of Social Sciences (Serbia)
Chamber of Economy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Business & Innovation Center (North Macedonia)
Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism (Montenegro)

Associated organizations

Uniadrion – Association of the Universities of the Adriatic and Ionian Region (Italy)
Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Cities (Italy)

Duration of the project
36 months
September 2024 – August 2027

Role of Forum AIC
Partner

Total budget of the project
€1,179,260.50

Budget of Forum AIC
€ 144,500.00

Project Website

Background and Objectives:

GPP2ADRION aims to promote the adoption of Green Public Procurement (GPP) in the EUSAIR regions to overcome the barriers that hamper the transition towards a circular economy. The European Commission (EC), in its guidance “Public Procurement for a circular economy” (2017), states that the adoption of GPP, a process whereby public authorities seek to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle, is needed to achieve EU environmental and circular economy (CE) targets. With a focus on EUSAIR regions, the EC according to the outcomes of “EUSAIR bringing the Green Deal to the region”, stated that to leverage the adoption of GPP, capacity-building programs are needed specifically for non-EU countries. Therefore, the project will develop macro-regional solutions that will provide a common knowledge base within EUSAIR countries and boost the demand and offer of CE products and services. These can be achieved only through a transnational approach that will align different countries on the same GPP level of knowledge. The project will start from the definition of an effective capacity-building package for the qualifications of GPP Ambassadors (regional experts on the topic), the creation of GPP Regional Contact Points (to support Public Bodies and Policy Makers, including SMEs in implementing GPP procedures) and a Transnational Network that will be established from PPs that will act as the overall guidance to further boost the application of GPP for CE on a common EUSAIR ground. At the annual EUSAIR Forum, the Transnational Network will be launched and opened to Public Bodies and Policy Makers of the ADRION countries. This will set the ground for the adoption of a transnational plan for the diffusion of GPP in Public Bodies and Policy Makers. Public bodies and policymakers will directly benefit from project outcomes and will create a higher demand for circular economy products and services. Also, SMEs will benefit by implementing GPP criteria to innovate their offer of products and services.

The Challenge
The transition from a linear to a circular economy is crucial for the ADRION region, yet opportunities and tools for implementing Green Public Procurement (GPP) remain unevenly distributed and poorly understood. While GPP is mandatory in Italy, Greece, Slovenia, and Croatia, it remains voluntary in other ADRION countries, creating barriers to a unified circular market.

Our Solution
GPP2ADRION creates a transnational ecosystem that aligns ADRION countries on GPP knowledge and practice. By training GPP Ambassadors, establishing Regional Contact Points, and building a Transnational Network, we’re creating the infrastructure needed to transform public procurement into a driver of circular economy across the entire macro-region.

What Makes This Project Unique
-> First comprehensive GPP capacity building programme across EU and IPA countries in the ADRION region
-> Creation of certified GPP Ambassadors – regional experts who will continue to spread knowledge after project completion
-> Establishment of permanent GPP Contact Points providing ongoing support to public bodies and SMEs
-> Integration with EUSAIR governance through official launch at EUSAIR Forums, ensuring policy-level impact

Target groups:

• Local Public Authorities (LPA)
• Regional Public Authorities (RPA)
• National Public Authorities (NPA)
• Interest groups including NGOs (IG+NGO)
• Higher education and research organizations (HERO)
• Educational/training center and school (ETCS)
• Enterprises, except SME (ENTRP)
• SME (SME)
• General public

Contacts:

Forum AIC Secretariat – tel. +39 071 5898249 – E-mail address: segreteria.forum@marche.camcom.it