4th Meeting of Local Partners of the DESICE Project

The 4th Meeting of Local Partners of the DESICE Project was successfully held on Monday, March 13, 2026, in the Seminar Room of the YMCA in Thessaloniki, the 4th Meeting of Local Partners (Regional Stakeholder Group – RSG) of the European DESICE project – Enhancing Circular Economy through Innovative Design, under the Interreg Europe program.

The meeting was opened by Ms. Vasiliki Papadopoulou, General Manager of ANATOLIKI S.A. – A.O.T.A., who emphasized the importance of active participation by local stakeholders and cooperation among public organizations, businesses, and research institutions to strengthen the circular economy and promote sustainable policies at the local and regional levels.

The first part of the meeting featured a presentation on the project’s progress during its fourth implementation period, with particular emphasis on the interregional meeting held in Estonia. The presentation was given by Ms. Eleni Iordanidou, the project’s Project Manager, who analyzed the knowledge-sharing activities among the partners, as well as the study visits conducted during their meeting in Estonia. Special mention was made of the interesting best practices presented, which concern innovative approaches in the field of the circular economy and sustainable design and can serve as a source of inspiration for the development of similar initiatives at the local level.

Next, Mr. Dionysis Paliouras, representing the Municipality of Thessaloniki, presented the Impact Week policy tool, a best practice originating in Belgium that aims to influence the DESICE project. At the same time, he analyzed the approaches and actions being considered to integrate the principles of the circular economy into the design and implementation of relevant policies at the local level

Finally, Ms. Stavroula Balmadaki from ANATOLIKI S.A. – A.O.T.A. presented the next steps of the project for the fifth implementation semester, as well as the process for identifying new best practices. As noted, the new theme that will engage the partners during the fifth semester concerns new collaboration models for circular design, with the aim of promoting innovative forms of cooperation between public bodies, businesses, and research organizations. This theme is expected to contribute significantly to the development and implementation of new approaches that strengthen the circular economy and promote sustainable solutions in the design of products and services.

The meeting concluded with a particularly fruitful and substantive discussion among the participants, which highlighted the importance of active participation by local stakeholders in the exchange of knowledge and experiences regarding the circular economy. Participants had the opportunity to share their views, ask questions, and discuss ways to leverage the best practices presented, as well as the experiences gained from interregional cooperation within the project. This substantive exchange of ideas helped identify opportunities for cooperation and highlight ways to strengthen policies related to circular design, confirming the important role of cooperation and consultation in shaping effective and sustainable solutions at the local level. For more information about the project, please visit its websites by clicking here and here.

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