Presentation of the research study “Per un Polo di sviluppo dell’Alto Adriatico”

Venue: Chamber of Commerce of Trieste (Italy)
Period: July 22, 2009

Last July 22nd, 2009 the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Franco Frattini, presented the outcomes of the research study “Per un polo di sviluppo dell’Alto Adriatico. La cooperazione trilaterale Italia-Slovenia-Croazia nell'ambito dell'attuazione infrastrutturale del Corridoio Pan-Europeo V”(For a development centre in the North Adriatic. Trilateral cooperation among Italy, Slovenia and Croatia in view of the infrastructural implementation of Trans-European Corridor V) at a meeting organized in Trieste by the local Chamber of Commerce.

The study was accomplished by the Istituto perl’Europa Centro-Orientale e Balcanica (IECOB) and was carried out by a group of young researchers – Sonia Geromino, Simona Mameli, Michele Tempera, and Claudio Tonini – under the supervision of Prof. Francesco Privitera.

Prior to Mr. Frattini’s speech, Prof. Stefano Bianchini, IECOB Director, briefly introduced the research and educational activities carried out by the Istituto, while a researcher, Claudio Tonini, and Prof. Francesco Privitera presented the contents of the research study. Key point oftheir presentation was the analysis of possible developments in the harbour, highway, railway and water way systems of the trans-national area reached by Corridor V as a result of its further implementation. Moreover, Prof. Privitera considered the positive effects that Corridor V will have also on wider geographical landscapes, with particular reference to East-Central Europe and the Black See basin,which will be better connected with Italy both from a political and an economic perspective.

Recalling the outcomes of the IECOB research, Mr. Frattini underlined the strategic position of Friuli/Venezia Giulia – the Italian region through which Corridor V enters Slovenia – and the rolethatNorth-Eastern Italy is going to playin the integration process ofthe Western Balkans into the European Union.That’s an important task of the Italian foreign policy, the Minister said. Finally, Mr. Frattini emphasised how Corridor V could fully integrate the energetic corridors which cross the EU and the Balkans, thus giving additional value to the North Adriatic harbour system (including the ports of Trieste, Koper, Rijekaand some smaller ones).

The audience was welcomed by the President of Friuli/Venezia Giulia, Mr. Renzo Tondo, the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Trieste, Mr. Antonio Paletti, and the President of the Università Popolare di Trieste, Prof. Silvio Delbello. Besides the General Director of the DG European Countries of the European Commission, Ambassador Mario Bova, the meeting gathered in Trieste many other diplomats from Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and Hungary, as well as official representatives from the Central European Initiative andthe Adriatic Ionian Initiative.

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