South-East European Research Centre (SEERC)

We are thrilled to share that Prof. Panayiotis Ketikidis, our Chairman, has been appointed as a member of the National Council for Research, Technology, and Innovation (ΕΣΕΤΕΚ).

LISTEN successfully completed Participatory Needs Assessment events in Greece (Ano Poroia, Katerini, Thessaloniki), Bulgaria (Topolovgrad), and Portugal (Faro). The process emphasized the importance of inclusive, community-driven approaches, highlighting local strengths such as grassroots collaboration in Greece, solidarity networks in Bulgaria, and deep community trust in Portugal. These insights will guide the development of tailored strategies rooted in the real needs and priorities of each community.

ACCTING’s Final Conference in Brussels brought together key stakeholders to reflect on its impact toward a fair and inclusive European Green Deal.

Στις 15 Μαΐου 2025, το έργο ACCTING διοργανώνει ένα διαδικτυακό σεμινάριο αφιερωμένο στους αγώνες και τις εμπειρίες αλληλεγγύης που αναπτύσσονται από γυναίκες και τοπικές κοινότητες σε δασικές και αγροτικές περιοχές της Ελλάδας και της Τουρκίας, ενάντια στους κινδύνους των δασικών πυρκαγιών. Η εκδήλωση περιλαμβάνει παρουσιάσεις πολιτικών προτάσεων και εργαλείων πρόληψης, καθώς και συζήτηση στρογγυλής τραπέζης με εκπροσώπους τοπικών κοινωνιών, οργανώσεων και φορέων.

Professor Panayiotis H. Ketikidis co-authors a new peer-reviewed article in European Planning Studies, examining the dynamic relationship between circular economy principles and smart specialisation strategies. The research provides critical insights into regional development, innovation policy, and territorial anchoring.

Μια ουσιαστική εκδήλωση με θέμα τη μετανάστευση και την ψυχική υγεία πραγματοποιήθηκε από το MENTBEST και τη ΜΚΟ JETA (ΖΩΗ), αναδεικνύοντας τις προκλήσεις και τις αντοχές της αλβανικής κοινότητας στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Μαζί, ανθίζουμε χωρίς κατάθλιψη.

On April 29th, SEERC participated in the ACCTING Final Conference in Brussels, titled “Empowering Change: Building a Fair and Inclusive Green Deal.” The event highlighted the importance of social and environmental justice through sessions on knowledge, dialogue, and action. SEERC Director Mr. Zaharis moderated a key session on behavioural change and collaboration. Stefania Gourzoulidou also presented two EU-funded projects—INSPIRE and LISTEN—focused on rural development and inclusive community engagement. The conference showcased collective efforts toward a more equitable and sustainable Europe.

Don’t miss our new webinar on 13 May 2025 exploring how local governments and civil society organizations can collaborate to support just, sustainable urban transitions. With insights from the ACCTING project and experiences from ICLEI and SEERC, the session will highlight practical approaches to inclusive governance and local climate action.