EmpowerUs has been more than a project
Prosjektleder Maiken Bjørkan i aksjon under EmpowerUs sin avslutningskonferanse i Brussel. Foto: Nord-Norges Europakontor
The EU project EmpowerUs recently held its final event in Brussels, where key results and future directions for sustainable coastal communities were discussed.
15 Sep 2025
The project, coordinated by Nordland Research Institute (NRI), is scheduled to conclude in September after three years. The EmpowerUs project recently held its final event, where key findings and future policy directions for sustainable and resilient coastal communities were discussed. The event, "Empowering Coastal Voices: Co-creating the Future of Marine Policy," moderated by our researcher Maiken Bjørkan, brought together leading researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from various European projects and initiatives.
Kieran Coleman, Policy Officer at the European Commission's DG for Research and Innovation, kicked off the conference with his keynote speech, emphasising the importance of involving local institutions and communities in European projects.
– He pointed out that EmpowerUs has helped strengthen ties between people and highlighted the need to build on the project’s results to create resilient coastal communities, said project coordinator Cecilie Bratt from Nordland Research Institute.
Monica Veronesi from FAMENET discussed how community-based development strategies can be applied to support sustainable fisheries areas, sharing insights on how local communities can be mobilised to take part in development processes.
More Than a Project
Two panel discussions addressed critical topics, such as why the social sciences matter for maritime policy, with contributions from other EU projects, including ProCoast and CrossGov.
– The experts discussed barriers for local communities, the need for participation, and the importance of creating a holistic approach to ocean governance, said Bratt.
In the second part of the day, through an interactive coastal café, participants had the opportunity to explore results from EmpowerUs and engage with project activities and methods. The six countries that served as pilot sites during the project also offered local food and drinks, adding a special flavour to the experience.
– The event concluded with a pleasant networking session, where participants could discuss collaboration and future prospects for a more sustainable relationship with our seas and coasts, said Bratt.
– EmpowerUs has proven to be more than a project; it is an initiative for change, aiming to improve the lives of those living along Europe’s coastline.
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