In the framework of the SAGOV Plus project, the Cooperation and Development Institute organised the Conference on “Blue Balkans: Maritime Connectivity in South Adriatic”on 19 December 2022, at Aleksandër Moisiu University, Durrës.
SAGOV Plus is a 6-months project co-funded by the Interreg-IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro and implemented by Cooperation and Development Institute in partnership with the Ministry of Capital Investments of Montenegro and the Special Structure for Territory Cooperation of Puglia Region.
The event focused on the Western dimension of the WB European Transport Corridor and targeted maritime connectivity in the South Adriatic area with a special emphasis on the cooperation amongst Italy, Albania and Montenegro in the maritime transport sector, as the western component of the Adriatic – Black Sea connectivity through Corridor VIII.
The welcoming addresses were delivered by Mrs. Floreta Kertusha, representative of the Municipality of Durrës who highlighted the relations of the Port and the City and how to further improve it; as well as Mr. Osman Metalla, Dean of the Faculty of Professional Studies, Aleksandër Moisiu University, who focused on the investment in human capital (to be done through academia) in order for the Port – City binomial to function efficiently. The establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Maritime Affairs (CEMA) was mentioned as a successful initiative in this direction.
The first panel on “Waterborne Connectivity Balkan Peninsula” started with a presentation and update of the situation of ports in the eastern coast of South Adriatic (SA) – Port of Bar in Montenegro, Port of Durrës, Shëngjin, Saranda in Albania and maritime ports in the Puglia Region. Mr. Massimo Lupis, Coordinator at the Regional Mobility Center in the Puglia Region, also stated the importance that Corridor VIII has for the port in the South Adriatic in terms of connectivity for commercial purposes and geo-political ones.
The second panel on “Raising Convergence with EU, regional initiatives and other sectors” focused on the regional and EU dimension of the waterborne sector. Mr. Elson Thana, representative of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat informed the participant that the main novelty on Trans-European Transport Network is the connection that each corridor will have with the Green Agenda and Green Deal as well as the influence of geopolitics. Another important innovation that was emphasised and directly influence the WB6 is the inclusion of the Western Balkan European Transport Corridor.
Furthermore, the connection of maritime transport with other sub-sectors of transport such as the railway, as well as other sectors such as digital, environmental, etc. were discussed. In this panel, Mr. Dritan Spahiu, Administrator of ALBRAIL brought the example of a successful railway line from Fier to a port facility in Vlora. Followed by Mr. Rezart Kapedani the Deputy Team Leader of the project “Supporting Albanian Negotiations in Environment, Chapter 27” mentioned the main normative acts that Albania should align with the EU acquis in the transport sector that are directly related to the environment sector and effect climate change.
Consult here:
PowerPoint Presentation: Puglia Region ; Shengjin Port ; Port of Saranda
