During 26–27 February 2026, the kick-off meeting of the European project “SUSTAIN-2 – A Sustainability Model for Tourism (F&B)”, implemented within the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme, took place in the city of Xanthi, Hellenic Republic.

The event marked the launch of cooperation among six partners from the Black Sea region, sharing a common objective of promoting sustainable tourism through the application of ESG principles (Environmental, Social and Governance), with a focus on the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector, by implementing innovative solutions based on Artificial Intelligence.

Representatives of all partner organizations participated in the meeting:

– Democritus University of Thrace – School of Engineering – Special Account for Research Funds (Hellenic Republic);

– Municipality of Kavala (Hellenic Republic);

– Chisinau City Hall (Republic of Moldova);

– Municipality of Tsarevo (Bulgaria);

– Uskudar Urban Services Trade and Industry Joint Stock Organization (Türkiye);

– Ukrainian Association of Business Support Centers (Ukraine).

The meeting agenda included presentations of project partners and activities carried out during the initial implementation period, as well as clarification of issues related to reporting coordination mechanisms, communication rules, and visibility requirements applicable under the programme. Furthermore, joint actions planned for the second phase of the project were discussed and coordinated.

It should be noted that the next partners’ meeting is scheduled to take place in Chisinau, aiming to assess the progress achieved and coordinate the activities planned for the following stage of implementation.

Through the project “SUSTAIN-2 – A Sustainability Model for Tourism (F&B)”, Chisinau City Hall will support the capacity building of economic operators in the tourism sector, particularly within the Food & Beverage (F&B) industry, to adopt innovative solutions and sustainable practices. Consequently, the project will contribute to increasing the competitiveness of tourist destinations, reducing environmental impact, and generating sustainable socio-economic benefits for the community.