Turkey, Greece & Italy on Foot Project – Bursa Meeting

As regular newsleter readers know, CRS is curretly implementing an EU Civil Society Dialogue V project called ‘Italy, Greece and Turkey on Foot’. A management meeting at Nilüfer, Bursa, brought the team members from Italy, Albania, Greece and Turkey together to share ideas and progress on the project. The meeting took place in the pretty restored village of Misi, on the west slopes of Uludağ. We spent the first day meeting local societies (and sharing wonderful hospitality) and then exploring the Mysia Ways walking routes, which will be part of the Via Eurasia. This gave everyone an opportunity to share ideas and information about their routes. At the committee meeting, the project leaders shared updated info about their routes and introduced a new partner – Rea Leka of Tirana Express, in Albania. Kate, Elena and Jeremy explained the collection of scientific and management information; Elena analysed the results of the questionnaire and highlighted outstanding areas needing special attention. They discussed the constitution of the Federation, which will be formed to manage the route. Jeremy explained the duties of the scientific comittee.

Due to feedback from the EICR’s Stefano Dominioni, plus changes in their requirements,  the application for registration as a cultural route will be made in Sept 2020, not 2019. The representatives of Izmit Municipality offered to host the project’s final conference in their city.

The many follow-up actions will be shared with all participants. Thanks to the residents of Misi and especially the womens’ cooperatives who hosted and fed us such fresh and tasty food. Thanks also to Nilüfer Municipality’s deputy mayor Zafer Yıldız and Eirini Kalogeropoulou Yalçın who introduced and hosted the meeting successfully.