Who we are
Background
In the attempt to cope with the implications of the Balkan crisis of the 1990s, the European Union promoted the so-called “Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe”, addressing all South-Eastern European countries aspiring to join the Union.
Within this framework, on the occasion of the Finnish EU Summit (Tampere, October 1999), the “Adriatic-Ionian Initiative” (AII) was presented by the Italian Government and subsequently adopted, with the strong encouragement of the European Union and the decisive support of Greece.
The Adriatic-Ionian Initiative was formally established at the Summit on Development and Security on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas (Ancona, 19–20 May 2000), with the participation of the Heads of State and Government of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia. At the end of the Conference, the Foreign Ministers of the participating countries signed the “Ancona Declaration”, in the presence of the President of the European Commission. As stated in the Declaration, strengthening regional cooperation contributes to political and economic stability, thus creating a solid basis for the process of European integration. From its very beginning, the Initiative has pursued the objective of facilitating the EU integration of the Western Balkans.
The Initiative was later extended to Serbia and Montenegro, and following Montenegro’s independence, both States retained their status as participating countries. In 2018, with the adoption of the “Catania Declaration”, North Macedonia joined the Initiative. In 2019, with the adoption of the “Budva Declaration” (8 May 2019), San Marino also became a participating country.
Today, the AII counts ten participating countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia and Slovenia.
Given the increasing interdependence among States and the need to address common challenges affecting the Adriatic-Ionian region, concerted cooperation has become essential. Over time, cooperation has taken different forms, including the establishment of partnerships involving Adriatic-Ionian networks and Fora, such as the Forum of the Adriatic Ionian Chambers of Commerce, the Adriatic Ionian Forum of Cities and Towns and UniAdrion (the Adriatic-Ionian network of Universities).
The AII was originally founded with the aim of providing common and coordinated responses to shared challenges, ranging from the fight against organised crime to the protection of the marine environment of the Adriatic-Ionian basin.
Over the years, the geopolitical environment has significantly evolved. Slovenia (2004) and Croatia (2013) joined the European Union, while other Adriatic-Ionian countries are progressing along their EU integration paths within the Stabilisation and Association Process. Despite these changes, the rationale underpinning the establishment of the AII remains fully relevant and has even gained importance over time.
Over time, the AII has progressively evolved from a platform primarily aimed at fostering political dialogue and regional cooperation into a key pillar of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-regional governance, closely intertwined with the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR). In this context, the AII remains a unique intergovernmental platform bringing together EU Member States and candidate countries of the region, contributing to stability, cooperation and European integration.
Latest Developments
Following the EU approach to support multilateral sub-regional cooperation, and inspired by the experience of other macro-regional strategies, the AII has played a key role since 2010 in promoting the establishment of a Macro-Region for the Adriatic-Ionian area.
Considering the shared historical and cultural heritage, the common use of the sea, the need to protect the marine environment, and the opportunities for sustainable development and growth, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Adriatic-Ionian countries adopted, under the Italian Chairmanship, the “Declaration on the Support of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic Ionian Basin” (Ancona, 5 May 2010).
Since then, AII participating States, regional authorities and stakeholders have jointly contributed to promoting the macro-regional approach, raising awareness and building broad support across the region.
As a result of this joint effort, the European Council invited the European Commission to develop a dedicated Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), which was endorsed on 24 October 2014 and is currently under implementation.
Following the endorsement of EUSAIR, the AII undertook a reflection on its role within the new macro-regional framework, with the aim of avoiding duplication and enhancing complementarities between the two frameworks.
This process led to two key developments:
- The reform of the AII Round Tables (2015), aimed at aligning AII priorities with those of EUSAIR and transforming them into a platform supporting the implementation of the Strategy, notably through the involvement of stakeholders, including local authorities, civil society, academia and the private sector.
- The progressive convergence of the AII and EUSAIR political dimension, ensuring coherence and avoiding duplication between the respective governance structures.
In conjunction with the first EUSAIR Forum (Dubrovnik, 2016), the first joint “Adriatic-Ionian Council / EUSAIR Ministerial Meeting” took place, acting as the highest political level for both frameworks.
Today, the AII operates in full synergy with EUSAIR, contributing to both its political guidance and implementation. Through its intergovernmental dimension, the AII provides strategic orientation and ensures political coordination among participating countries, while fostering dialogue among stakeholders and supporting macro-regional priorities. In this framework, the AII plays a complementary role to EUSAIR, reinforcing regional ownership and supporting the EU integration path of the Western Balkans.