On 29 April 2025, the University of Thessaly (UTH) hosted its first stakeholder workshop in Volos, Greece, as part of Case Study 2 of the ENHANCE project, focusing on the Pagasitikos Gulf—a semi-enclosed marine ecosystem particularly vulnerable to pollution and climate impacts. The event, conducted in Greek, brought together experts and stakeholders from across sectors—environmental, veterinary, maritime, academic, and municipal—to shape practical, inclusive solutions for coastal management through the One Health lens.

The workshop opened with welcoming remarks from Prof. Chrysi Laspidou, Scientific Coordinator of ENHANCE at UTH, and Prof. Charalambos Billinis, Rector of the University of Thessaly. Participants then engaged in presentations and interactive activities that explored:

• Current challenges in waste management, animal health, and environmental monitoring;
  Mapping stakeholder roles and responsibilities across institutions;
• Co-designing user requirements for the ENHANCE digital platform and AI toolkit.

The event was a vivid demonstration of the One Health principle in action—recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in coastal ecosystems.

Throughout the discussions, participants surfaced urgent, real-world challenges. In the maritime sector, waste disposal practices—particularly for bilge water, ballast water, and dredged sediments—remain inconsistent, with concerns about weak enforcement and the sustainability of transporting liquid waste to Athens. The issue is compounded by insufficient monitoring of accidental pollution and anecdotal reports of illegal dumping.

Veterinary and agricultural stakeholders highlighted systemic issues such as weak biosafety controls, uncoordinated carcass and manure disposal, and limited oversight of antibiotic use in livestock, which could increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission and antimicrobial resistance. Concerns were also raised about the absence of a national strategy for animal incineration or burial, despite legal obligations for municipalities.

Meanwhile, environmental monitoring remains fragmented and infrequent, with limited data on the impact of inflows from Lake Karla, the changing seabed composition, and the long-term effects of extreme weather events like Storm Daniel, which dramatically altered water quality and sedimentation patterns in the gulf.

Participants stressed that effective coastal management depends on stronger institutional coordination. Actors such as veterinarians, port authorities, municipal governments, and environmental agencies need to operate under clearer roles and shared responsibilities. Upgrades in waste infrastructure, including manure processing, hospital and veterinary waste tracking, and secured disposal sites, were seen as urgent priorities to safeguard public and environmental health.

The discussion also revealed a broader need for cultural and systemic change. Public awareness about food traceability, seafood origins, and marine mammal protection remains low. There is no operational response network for stranded sea animals, and biosafety measures, such as disinfectant protocols at animal facilities, are largely absent. Fragmented data-sharing further limits coordinated action, particularly in response to heavy rainfall events that carry waste and contaminants directly into the sea.

The insights and concerns shared during the workshop—captured through the creation of user personas representing real stakeholder needs—will directly inform the development of the ENHANCE tools. These personas will guide the design of a user-friendly digital platform and decision-support system, tailored to local challenges in the Pagasitikos region. The event marks a key milestone in the project’s mission to develop user-driven, practical solutions that strengthen coastal resilience and support sustainable, integrated management practices across European coastal regions.

From April 22 to 24, 2025, ENRICH GLOBAL held its Third Innovation Days and Multi-Event at the scenic Hotel Le Saint Paul in Nice, France. The gathering brought together over 40 key figures from the European research and innovation community to exchange knowledge, foster new partnerships, and shape future collaboration. This year’s focus was closely tied to the NexusNet COST Action, supporting systemic approaches to climate resilience.

One of the event’s highlights took place on April 23, during the NexusNet Legacy Forum, where Assistant Professor Giannis Adamos and Inna Petrenko delivered a joint presentation spotlighting four major Horizon Europe projects—ARSINOE, ENFORCE, NATALIE, and ENHANCE. Their intervention emphasised how these initiatives share integrated strategies and complementary methodologies to address the systemic challenges posed by climate change.

This presentation offered an excellent opportunity to reaffirm ENHANCE’s contribution to building climate-resilient pathways through co-creation, innovation, and practical solutions that connect communities and ecosystems.

The event also marked the launch of a newly established thematic group “Thriving cities and community resilience“, powered by ENRICH GLOBAL and chaired by Assist. Prof. Giannis Adamos. While not exclusive to any single project, this initiative resonates with ENHANCE’s mission to support cities and regions in navigating the impacts of climate change through collaborative action and nature-based solutions.

We extend our sincere thanks to ENRICH GLOBAL, Svetlana Klessova, and Inna Petrenko for their invitation and continued support, and to Chrysi Laspidou, Giannis Adamos, and Antonia Vronti for representing the ENHANCE project during this important event.

The EU-funded ENHANCE initiative has officially begun its three-year mission to protect coastal ecosystems. The project was launched during a two-day hybrid kick-off meeting in Athens, Greece, on December 9–10, 2024. Hosted by SingularLogic (Greece), the project coordinator, the event brought together more than 20 partner representatives to establish a collaborative framework for the initiative’s ambitious goals.

About ENHANCE

Coordinated by Dr. Stamatia Rizou from SingularLogic (Greece), ENHANCE aims to mitigate the growing threats of eutrophication, climate change, and human-induced pressures on coastal environments. The project promotes sustainable coastal management by addressing these challenges and their impacts on human, animal, and environmental health.

ENHANCE is funded under the “Digital, Industry, and Space” pillar of Horizon Europe, with a total budget of €1.7 million, fully supported by the European Union and under the guidance of the European Space Agency.

Kick-Off Meeting Highlights

The meeting opened with an online address from the EU Officer and EUSPA representative, who provided an overview of the Horizon Europe program, EUSPA’s role, and the broader project implementation.

Project Coordinator Dr. Stamatia Rizou then officially launched the meeting, presenting ENHANCE multidimensional approach through detailed work packages. Each work package leader outlined their respective scopes, defining a roadmap for the upcoming stages.

The second day focused on finalizing the work roadmap, refining task allocations, and setting clear milestones for the months ahead.

A Strong Foundation for Innovation

The discussions and collaborations during the kick-off meeting have laid a solid foundation for developing innovative solutions in coastal management and preservation. With a clear roadmap in place, the ENHANCE consortium is poised to drive impactful advancements in protecting coastal ecosystems.