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The first meeting of the Working Group for the Pillar "Connecting the Region" of the "Discussion Paper" on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic Ionian Region took place on October 14 in Ancona under the title "Connecting the Adriatic Ionian Region, Challenges and Goals towards a successful EUSAIR Plan of Action".
The meeting was organized by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Italy and Serbia leading Pillar II of the Strategy and Region Marche, in cooperation with the Adriatic Ionian Initiative and the Fora of Civil Society having their seat in Ancona (Cities, Chambers of Commerce and Universities).
The Conference was opened by prominent national, international and national authorities (Among others HE Marta Dassù, Italian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs – HE Ana Hrustanovic, Serbian Ambassador in Rome – Gian Mario Spacce, President of Region Marche – Amb. Fabio Pigliapoco, AII Secretary General) and followed by contribution of experts in the field of transports, energy infrastructure, research and innovation, and safety and security in maritime transport.
Organize by the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the Autonomous Region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the Stakeholder's Conference "Connecting Macro-Regions and Strengthening Regional Cooperation on the eve of the new Cohesion Policy of the European Union" was held in Trieste on 11 October 2013.
The Adriatic Ionian Initiative was present at the event with its Secretary General who intervened as a panelist in the second session "Bridging Macro-Regions".
In his address, Amb. Pigliapoco, highlighted the opportunity of a close coordination between the existing Danube Macroregion and the future Adriatic Ionian Macro-Region.
He also informed about the current activities of the Adriatic Ionian Initiative, which represents the "intergovernmental anchorage" of the future Adriatic-Ionian macroregion.
The Adriatic Mediterranean Festival 2013 will take place in Ancona, with the partnership of the AII Permanent Secretariat, from August 24 to August 30.
As a well-established tradition, the inauguration will be hosted by the AII Permanent Secretariat at its seat of the Cittadella Fortress in Ancona.
Among other cultural activities of the festival, it is worth to note the following which involve artists coming from AII countries:
- Concert of Boris Kovac (Serbia);
- Animation Cinema with Daniel Suljic, Art Director of Animafest of Zagreb (Croatia);
- Concert of Evievan Rebetiko (Greece).
To celebrate the recent accession of Croatia to the European Union, the guest of honor will be the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Italy, H.E. Damir Grubisa, diplomat, historian, political analyst of international reputation. Ambassador Grubisa will inaugurate the Festival with the Secretary General Amb. Fabio Pigliapoco at the presence of local authorities and will receive the Adriatic-Mediterranean Prize for its contribution to dialogue in the region.
Upon invitation by the Slovenian Foreign Minister Erjavec , the AII Secretary General attended the Eight BLED Strategic Forum ( BLED 1-3 September 2013).
Ambassador Pigliapoco was a panelist in Panel n. 2 which focused on the water in the MENA ( Middle East and North Africa Region ).
He highlighted the main lines of the Maritime Strategy of the future Adriatic Ionian macroregion as presented by the European Commission in its Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on November 2012, as “a possible example for a collective response to water management through regional cooperation”.
The Strategic Forum proved to be a very successful event and was attended by eminent participants as Prime Ministers Bratusek and Letta of Slovenia and Italy , President Pahor of Slovenia, the Foreign Ministers of Croatia , FYROM and Bosnia Erzegovina and other distinguished guests as former Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
The AII Chairmanship of the Republic of Albania (June 2013 - May 2014) has defined its calendar of activities which is enclosed to the present article.