Green solutions through dialogue – My IVY journey with “Dialogue 4 Living Areas” (D4LA)

Hello everyone! 

My name is Marina and for the last months I have had the pleasure of participating as an IVY volunteer in the Dialogue 4 Living Areas project. 

This great opportunity manifested to me through my university (University of Patras), which encouraged me to see how European projects work in practice.

So, what is D4LA all about? D4LA stands for Dialogue for Living Areas and, as anyone can imagine, this project promotes dialogue. Although this answer seems obvious, as we take a deeper dive into the project, we understand that this institutional dialogue takes place between policymakers and public stakeholders at the Euro-Mediterranean level. 

As one of the two main Governance projects, its main goal is to create a more sustainable environment for the countries and cities involved and at the same time ameliorate their citizens’ everyday lives. By fostering this communication, it is ensured that the development and the green transition is not just top-down, but a result of collective ideas and local needs. As a volunteer I don’t just observe, I participate! I support these efforts by organizing data, arranging and participating in meetings or assisting with the outputs of various Policy Instruments. While every task helps me understand the value of the programme, I had the opportunity to engage with a Policy Champion, the island of Chalki. Chalki is pioneer in the field of renewable energy, aiming for sustainable economic development. Having spoken with the deputy mayor of Chalki, I experienced firsthand the challenges of implementing such vital changes. Through exchanges with other European municipalities, such as Nice Côte d’Azur, and by observing the diverse scales and needs of coastal and island communities across the Mediterranean, I gained valuable insight into how different Mediterranean regions collaborate to address shared challenges. I also witnessed how good practices are adapted and transferred to different local contexts. It has been truly enlightening to see how a successful model from one part of the Mediterranean can inspire and guide solutions in another. All in all, this has been an eye-opening journey into the world of green approaches to problem-solving and European cooperation as well.

– Marina, IVY Project Partner at the Special Account for Research Grants, UNIVERSITY OF PATRAS, for the Interreg project D4LA, under the programme Interreg Euro-Med.