Next2Met partners managed to organise their first policy learning event in Lahti (FI), just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For two years they continued exchange activities from remote, with the aim of identifying successful practices to be transferred to their regions. Resolvo supported them in the entire process, not only as far as coordination activities and reporting were concerned but also guiding the exchange process. Even though, maintaining commitment when working online only could have been challenging, the Next2Met partners, guided by Päijät-Häme, did an excellent job. They managed to transform some of the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic into opportunities linked to digitalisation, quality of life, multilocality and hybrid work, citizen participation and inclusion. It seemed then well deserved to be able to meet again in spring 2022, with a series of study visits to the Midlands (IE), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (DE) and Barcelona (ES) and a project meeting organised in Krems, Lower Austria, to finalise exchange activities.
All partners’ Action Plans detailing their proposals for improvement at policy level and drafted with the support of Resolvo were swiftly approved by Interreg Europe. The project has just entered its last year of activities, which is dedicated to making such plans a reality.
