On October 6, 2026, the second meeting of the Regional Stakeholder Group took place at the premises of the Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region in Strumica. The meeting was held within the framework of the SIJMA project—”Social innovations for job opportunities and development in mining areas in transition across Europe” – which is implemented under the Interreg Europe programme.
Representatives from municipalities within the South-East Planning Region and the non-governmental sector participated in the meeting. The discussion focused on experiences, insights, and best practices gained from the interregional study visit and thematic activities in Leipzig and Borna, Germany, with particular emphasis on how former mining areas manage structural changes and create new development opportunities.
The German experiences were also examined in the context of the South-East Planning Region, specifically focusing on the mining areas of Radovish and Konche. A technical presentation titled “Technical Strategy for Post-Mining Transformation – Applying German Post-Mining Innovations (Borna/Leipzig) to the Mining Zones of Radovish and Konche” outlined opportunities to link the German experiences with regional challenges and potential. Particular attention was paid to the former Damjan mine, water resource protection and management, the reclamation of mining areas, and the potential of Lake Mantovo regarding agriculture, water supply, recreation, and tourism. The presentation was followed by an open discussion in which participants exchanged views on opportunities to apply and adapt some of the presented approaches to the conditions and needs of the South-East Planning Region.
Through such meetings, the SIJMA project facilitates learning from European experiences and linking them to the local context, while simultaneously fostering cooperation among local authorities, the civil society sector, and other relevant stakeholders.
The experiences and conclusions drawn from the interregional exchange among partner regions from North Macedonia, Spain, Germany, Greece, and Hungary will serve as a foundation for future project activities and for identifying potential approaches and measures for the sustainable economic and social development of areas facing structural changes linked to mining.
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