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Ambassador Fabio Pigliapoco, Head of the Permanent Secretariat of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative took part in the international conference “Connecting through Knowledge – Socio-economic Data, Infrastructure, Tourism and Sustainable Development in the Adriatic-Ionian Macroregion,” held on 26 June 2025 at the Loggia dei Mercanti in Ancona.
Read more: Amb. Pigliapoco at “Connecting through Knowledge” Conference - Ancona, 26 June 2025
Ambassador Fabio Pigliapoco, Head of the Adriatic Ionian Initiative Permanent Secretariat, participated in the concluding Ministerial Meeting of the Albanian Chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), held in Tirana on June 16, 2025.
The high-level event gathered Ministers and senior representatives from the 13 SEECP participating countries, alongside several regional organizations and initiatives including the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Adriatic Ionian Initiative (AII), Central European Initiative (CEI), European External Action Service (EEAS), and the Western Balkans Fund.
The meeting marked the conclusion of Albania’s SEECP Chairmanship for the period July 2024 – June 2025, carried out under the motto “Shaping our European Future.” Albania’s leadership focused on three strategic priorities: strengthening political cooperation, accelerating economic integration, and achieving concrete progress on the path to European Union membership.
The SEECP currently includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Kosovo*, and Turkey. As a regionally owned process, SEECP continues to be a central platform for addressing shared challenges and advancing regional cooperation in South-East Europe.
A key message emerging from the discussions was the crucial role of regional cooperation in preparing for EU integration: “EU enlargement is not just a political process, but a strategic investment in peace and stability across Europe.”
The SEECP Chairmanship will now pass to Bulgaria, which will lead the process for the next term.
As part of the 10th EUSAIR Forum, the event “Addressing Challenges in Maritime Infrastructure & Connectivity in the Adriatic-Ionian Region: Chambers of Commerce Insights and Data-Driven Perspectives from the DO-AIR Observatory” was held on 7 May 2025 at the Artemis Hall of the Pilot Beach Hotel in Crete. The event was organised by the Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce (AIC Forum), in cooperation with the Marche Chamber of Commerce and Uniontrasporti.
The event brought together representatives of European institutions, port authorities, logistics experts, businesses, and regional stakeholders to explore the challenges and opportunities in maritime infrastructure and connectivity across the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region.
The programme featured several key segments. Following the institutional opening, a session was dedicated to the DO-AIR Observatory, a strategic tool designed to collect and analyse data to support evidence-based regional planning. This was followed by two thematic round tables: the first focused on the current state and future potential of port infrastructure in the macro-region, while the second examined the needs of the maritime market and private operators to ensure efficient and resilient connectivity.
A highlight of the institutional session was the intervention of Ambassador Fabio Pigliapoco, Head of the Permanent Secretariat of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII), who emphasised the crucial role played by the three Fora of civil society within the EUSAIR Strategy. He warmly welcomed the inclusion of the DO-AIR Observatory in the Crete Declaration, noting that all participating Ministers had recognised its strategic value.
📄 The full event report and content summary is available at the following link:
👉 https://www.forumaic.org/report-sullevento-addressing-challenges-in-maritime-infrastructure-connectivity-in-the-adriatic-ionian-region-creta-7-maggio-2025/
The Marche Region, in collaboration with the Adriatic Ionian Initiative, the Municipality of Ancona, the Marche Chamber of Commerce, and the Central Adriatic Ports Authority, is pleased to invite you to the celebrations marking the 25th Anniversary of the Ancona Declaration.
The event will not only commemorate a pivotal moment in the history of cooperation among Adriatic and Ionian countries, but also look ahead—renewing a shared commitment to support the EU enlargement process towards the Western Balkans and to foster lasting opportunities for growth and development across the region.
On 19 May 2000, in Ancona, the Foreign Ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, and Slovenia signed the Declaration that launched the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative—later joined by Montenegro, Serbia, San Marino, and North Macedonia— laying the groundwork for the current EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR). This was a concrete step towards promoting peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in a region of strategic importance for Europe.
On 27 June 2025, we will come together to celebrate 25 years of shared commitment and reflect on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
👉 To participate, please register using the following link:
https://www.regione.marche.it/CelebrazioneAncona27giugno
Please find here the draft agenda.
On 28 May 2025, the Faculty of Economics “Giorgio Fuà” in Ancona hosted the international youth event YOUth SHAPE EU – Bridging Borders, Building Belonging, bringing together young people, students, young professionals, and youth activists from across Europe and the Adriatic-Ionian region.
Read more: YOUth SHAPE EU: Young Voices for Europe’s Future – Ancona, 28 May 2025