GELATOn the ROAD Final Stop at the European Parliament

 

On March 17, 2026, the Belgian-Italian Chamber of Commerce organized, at the European Parliament in Brussels, the event “Culture as an Economic Driver in the New AgoraEU Programme”, hosted by  marking the final milestone for the European project GELATOn the ROAD. The conference, hosted and promoted by the MEP Hon. Elena Donazzan, was conducted with the contribution of the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Hon. Antonella Sberna. Dr. Gilles Pelayo and Claudio Saponara for the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

Key highlights of the event

The event represented the final conference of the project and an opportunity to present the results of a three-year journey aimed at promoting artisanal gelato as part of Europe’s intangible cultural heritage. 

The discussion highlighted the strategic role of culture as a driver of economic development and innovation, positioning GELATOn the ROAD as a reference model for future EU policies, particularly in view of the 2028–2034 programming period.

The event attracted strong interest, with over 370 participants registered to attend, keen to learn more about the project outcomes and future initiatives in the cultural sector. Among those present on-site in Brussels were the Project coordinator, Longarone Fiere Dolomiti, together with key partners including Venetian Cluster, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the European Training and Research Institute, and the Regional Development Agency. 

Some Gelato makers from the European Road of Gelato (ERoG) were also present, including Milanese Gelato in Antwerp, Gelati Tuttapanna in Forest (Brussels), as well as Italian artisans from Dassie Gelato (Treviso) and Gelateria da Nonno Piero (Albignasego, Padua). The event,  thus, represented an opportunity to highlight the results of the project GELATOn the ROAD as a concrete example of how an EU-supported cultural initiative can generate value, strengthen local value chains, and open new pathways for territorial development.

GELATOn the ROAD demonstrated how artisanal gelato can act not only as a cultural symbol, but also as a strategic lever for sustainable tourism, cross-border cooperation, and local economic activation. Through the development of the European Road of Gelato, the project has connected cultural heritage, gastronomy, and place-based promotion, while fostering quality standards, environmental sustainability, innovation in the artisan gelato supply chain, and greater visibility for local producers and destinations. In this sense, the initiative has offered a tangible example of how cultural and creative sectors can contribute to more resilient, attractive, and competitive territories across Europe.
 
We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all those who took part in the final event, both onsite and online. Your participation helped make the occasion a valuable moment of dialogue and dissemination, further highlighting the relevance of the project’s results and its potential long-term impact.
 
Thank you to everyone who visited, supported, and shared this journey with us!

If you want to discover more about the winning gelato flavours, check out our official social media pages.

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