Bari, 8 October 2025 – The Kick-off Meeting of PR.O.GR.E.S.S – Promoting Opportunities, Growth and Education for Social Success took place on 6–7 October 2025 at the Civic Museum of Bari, marking the official start of this new Interreg Greece–Italy 2021–2027 initiative.
The event, hosted by the Lead Beneficiary Consorzio Mestieri Puglia, brought together all project partners — Co2gether, the Achaia Chamber’s Development Entity (ACHADE) and the the Federation of People with Disabilities of Western Greece and Southern Ionian Islands from Greece, as well as Consorzio Elpendù, IDEA – Agenzia per il Lavoro (Reggio Calabria branch) from Italy — to launch a shared path towards breaking down barriers that still limit people with disabilities, fostering social inclusion and employment opportunities on both sides of the Adriatic.
The two-day meeting featured partner introductions and an overview of the project’s objectives and structure, focusing on management and coordination aspects, the development of shared methodologies for research, assessment, learning and inclusion, job placement, and mentoring models for companies employing people with disabilities, as well as on communication and dissemination activities.
The meeting also included valuable contributions from Mr. Gianfranco Gadaleta-JS Coordinator of and Ms. Maristella Mantuano- Communication Officer, representatives of the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg Greece–Italy Programme, who presented the implementation and communication rules for funded projects.
Two days of collaboration and exchange marked the beginning of a shared journey towards an inclusive employment model, capable of creating real opportunities for professional and personal growth. The event concluded with the definition of the next project milestones and an agreement on the calendar for upcoming activities, reinforcing the partners’ commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable cross-border labour market.
PR.O.GR.E.S.S. unites Greece and Italy to create a more inclusive future for People with Disabilities by opening access to education, employment, and social participation — using innovation, cooperation, and shared values.
Stay tuned for updates on the PR.O.GR.E.S.S journey!
#socialcohesion #InterregGreeceItaly #PRoGRESS #Inclusion #SocialEconomy #EUProjects #CrossBorderCooperation
