On November 4, 2025, a partner meeting under the project “Traditional Crafts Route for Sustainable Cultural Tourism Development (DanubeCrafts)” took place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event was organized and moderated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Vratsa as part of the 14th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR).
The meeting gathered representatives of partner organisations from across the Danube Region to share the results achieved during the first phase of project implementation and to discuss the next steps towards establishing a European Route of Traditional Crafts. Particular emphasis was placed on creating a network of craft and tourism centers that integrate cultural heritage with new economic opportunities for local communities.
The CCI Vratsa team, as lead partner for capacity-building activities and the organisational framework of the Craft and Thematic Tourism Centers, moderated the meeting and presented progress on the development of Regional Action Plans. These plans aim to revitalize traditional crafts through innovative, sustainable, and contemporary approaches that promote entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, and youth participation in the creative economy.
During the meeting, participants also explored opportunities for interregional cooperation, exchange of experience, and joint initiatives to promote traditional crafts as part of the shared cultural heritage of the Danube Region.
Through DanubeCrafts, partners from different countries are joining forces to build a sustainable network that links innovation, cultural heritage, and sustainable economic development — in line with the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and the Interreg Danube Region Programme.
