The XI Conference of the Presidents of Parliaments of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative organised by the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia in the framework of one-year Slovenian chairmanship took place in Brdo pri Kranju on Monday, 13 May 2013. The conference was hosted by Janko Veber, President of the National Assembly, and chairman-in-office of the parliamentary part of the Initiative. Among others, Mr. Krivokapic, the President of the Montenegrin Parliament and the Mr. Di Maio, the vice president of the Italian Parliament took part in the meeting giving their important contribution to the debate.

In the conference debate, the presidents and other high parliamentary representatives focused on topical issues related to the shaping of macroregions in the EU, with special emphasis on the development of the Adriatic and Ionian macroregion and the contribution by the parliaments in such processes.

The delegates decided to establish ad hoc delegation to the Adriatic Ionian Initiative. The first such meeting should take place in Autumn under Albanian Delegation.

Please find herewith enclose the Joint Statement of the Conference

The University of Primorska organized, last 22nd and 23rd of April in Koper, the General Assembly of UNIADRION - the Adriatic Ionian network of Universities – and the AII Round Table on inter-university cooperation under Slovenian Chairmanship.

The meetings had a particular significance in view of the role UniAdrion will assume within the future Adriatic Ionian Macro-Region. The AII Permanent Secretariat participated to the meeting besides representatives of Universities coming from five AII Countries.

Region Emilia Romagna organized a two days session workshop on “The European Union Maritime Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Seas as the maritime strand of the EU macroregional Adriatic-Ionian strategy. A macroregional approach to the common challenges and opportunities”.

The AII Secretary General, Amb. Pigliapoco, intervened to the meeting together with the Vice President of the Adriatic Ionian Forum of Chambers of Commerce also interpreting the feelings of the other two fora having seat in Ancona, namely UniAdrion and the Adriatic Ionian Forum of Cities and Towns. 

The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief has organized, under the AII Slovenian Chairmanship, the "Round Table on Preventing and fighting forest fires in the Adriatic Ionian Region".

The meeting gathered representatives of all 8 participating states of the AII and each of them shared its experience with the others. The participants decided to continue strengthening the cooperation by knowledge exchange, common activities and fostering the use of web tools for monitoring and fast response to forest fires.

In line with the decision taken by Senior Officials during our CSO meeting on 22 November , duly endorsed by the AII Foundation Board of Directors , we are pleased to inform you that the Permanent Secretariat has started delivering the first tranches of funds to those applicants who requested an advanced payment. THE REGIONAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME IS THEREFORE IN FULL SWING!!