ENSEMBLE final event: results and new horizons for European cooperation

From May 29th to June 2nd, 2025, the town of Iseo became a vibrant hub of European exchange, as it hosted the final event of the ENSEMBLE project, together with the European Lakes’ Festival. Delegations from partner towns and regions across Europe—stretching from Finland to Croatia, from Austria to Ukraine—gathered in Iseo to showcase their shared commitment to sustainable development and to celebrate the diversity that unites them.
The event brought together over 270 participants from 12 countries, in a unique blend public dialogue, youth participation, cultural experiences, and sustainability actions.

Youth first: “LakeLinks – Young Minds for a Greener Future”

The future generation took center stage early on. Thirty high school students from Italy, Austria, Finland, and Spain kicked off “LakeLinks”, a two-day interactive workshop that had them stepping into the shoes of several stakeholders—local governments, businesses, NGOs, educators, and citizens—to reflect on how sustainability is tackled in their home regions. Their reflections turned into posters, proposals, and finally a set of guidelines addressed to public authorities.

Sharing ideas and celebrating culture

The Civic Hall of Oldofredi’s Castle hosted the project’s closing conference, where updates on all ENSEMBLE Work Packages were shared. Highlights included a thought-provoking presentation on alternative economic models from the Hungarian delegation and insights on sustainable tourism education from students and teachers in St. Gilgen, Austria.

Cultural moments were just as important. From music concerts to the European Lakes’ Market, and from plogging sessions to art exhibitions, the town of Iseo was alive with connection, curiosity, and celebration.

Looking ahead: future projects

Beyond celebration, there was plenty of forward thinking. The final General Assembly opened its doors to all nEUlakes members and centered around what’s next. Discussions touched on sustainable tourism, green energy, and new forms of cooperation among lake-based communities.

A symbolic yet tangible example of this vision was the boat trip on Lake Iseo aboard a fully electric vessel—an inspiring model for cleaner transport across European waters.

Walking the talk

The weekend concluded with a field trip in the village of Marone, where delegates explored a trail that will soon be part of Lake Iseo’s Grand Tour—a citizen-inspired idea that’s now close to becoming reality.

A lyrical concert wrapped up the event, leaving guests with melodies in their ears and a shared belief in the power of community-led, place-based sustainability.

Click here to view the final event’s agenda
Click here to view the final conference’s presentations
Click here to view the destinations’ showcase’s presentations