In a significant gathering of maritime experts and policy leaders, the Central European Initiative – Executive Secretariat organised the rountable "From the Barcelona Convention to an operational strategy for the safeguard of the Adriatic Sea" during the Barcolana Sea Summit. The event, held in Trieste on 4 October, brought together the representatives of the Harbour Master Office in Trieste (Italy), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning (Slovenia), the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (Croatia) and researchers from the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS.
In this context, CEI Deputy Secretary General Nina Kodelja addressed the critical need for governmental cooperation at cross-border-level to address the issues of climate change and protection of marine resources. She underlined the role the CEI-led NAMIRS project was playing within the framework of a sub-regional emergency plan for prompt intervention at sea in the event of oil spills. This is especially key considering that the area concerned is geographically small and a possible maritime accident would have catastrophic consequences on the economies of three neighbouring-project-partner countries, namely Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. The OGS, in a recent study, confirmed the vulnerability of the region due highly populated coastal area, intense marine traffic and sensitive ecosystems.
Mr. Mitja Bricelj, TSG3 EUSAIR Coordinator, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning (Slovenia) illustrated the macro strategies at EU level and underlined the necessity of smart planning, responsible communication and involvement of the young generation to foster long term good-neighbourly relations in the western Balkans.
The Italian Coast Guard - Harbour Master Office of Trieste, partner of the project, took the opportunity to announce the next NAMIRS exercise at sea scheduled for 20 November during which the Standard Operating Procedures, i.e. the joint intervention protocols, will be tested.
The event concluded with a contribution from Prof. Jeremy Rifkin who focused on the Mediterranean bio-region. He emphasised the urgency of immediate and concerted efforts for the subsistence and protection of environmental ecosystems transcending the concept of national borders and confirmed the importance of the NAMIRS initiative as a tangible example of cooperation for the protection of the Adriatic ecosystem.
NAMIRS is co-financed by the European Commission DG ECHO in the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
For more info: marconato@cei.int
- Speakers
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- Nina Kodelja, CEI Deputy Secretray General;
- Diego Tomat, Captain (ITGC) of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Head of the Technical Department of the Harbour Master Office – Coast Guard of Trieste (Italy);
- Mitja Bricelj, TSG3 EUSAIR, Coordinator from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning (Slovenia);
- Žana Bjelkanović, Senior Analyst from the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (Croatia);
- Donata Canu, Senior Researcher from OGS (Italy);
- Prof. Jeremy Rifkin, President of TIR Consulting Group LLC and of Foundation on Economic Trends, Washington (USA).
Opening Barcolana Sea Summit
Interview with DSG Nina Kodelja (ITALIAN)
