Considering the growing workload of the Permanent Secretariat and in view of the future challenging period for the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative and the redefinition of the  European strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region governance , the eight participating Countries  have decided to strengthen the structure of the AII Permanent Secretariat by appointing former AII Secretary General , Ambassador Fabio Pigliapoco , as  "Senior advisor " of the AII P.S. 

The decision was taken by " silent procedure " on 26 June and subsequently formalized during the first AII  Committee of Senior Officials under  Italian Chairmanship  , held in Ancona on 26 October 2017 . 

In his new capacity , Ambassador Pigliapoco will have , inter alia , the task to keep the Secretariat in constant contact with the AII Senior Officials , EUSAIR National Coordinators , regional  Authorities and with the Fora of civil society ( Chambers of Commerce , Cities , Universities ) , having their Secretariats in Ancona. 

Ambassador Pigliapoco has already started to  work in close cooperation with the newly  appointed AII Secretary General , Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta.