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The Secretary General

Dear Visitors,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative.

Over the years, the Adriatic-Ionian Region has confirmed itself as a unique area of Europe, where an extraordinary cultural and natural heritage coexists with significant socio-economic challenges. From historic cities and UNESCO sites to diverse landscapes and vibrant communities, this Region represents both a shared legacy and a common responsibility.

In this context, the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative continues to play a key role in fostering dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding among its Member States. In close synergy with the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), the Initiative contributes to strengthening regional cohesion, promoting sustainable development, and supporting the European integration perspective of the Western Balkans.

A defining feature of our work is the continuous engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Through its activities, the Initiative brings together governments, parliaments, regional and local authorities, academia, civil society and economic actors, encouraging a multi-level and inclusive approach to regional cooperation.

Particular attention is devoted to enhancing connectivity — not only in terms of transport and energy, but also in terms of people-to-people exchanges, knowledge sharing and institutional cooperation. In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, strengthening these links is essential to ensure stability, resilience and prosperity across the Region.

The Adriatic and Ionian Initiative Permanent Secretariat, based in Ancona, remains fully committed to supporting the rotating Chairmanship and to facilitating cooperation across all pillars of the macro-regional strategy. It will continue to act as a reliable platform for coordination, dialogue and project development.

We invite you to explore our activities and to follow our ongoing efforts to promote a more connected, sustainable and inclusive Adriatic-Ionian Region.

Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta
Secretary General
Adriatic and Ionian Initiative

 

Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta is the Secretary General of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative, he was appointed to such position by the AII Ministers of Foreign Affairs gathered in the Adriatic and Ionian Council in Ioannina (11 May 2017) under the Hellenic Chairmanship.
Amb. Castellaneta has been reappointed for a further mandate until May 2026 by the AII Ministers of Foreign Affairs gathered in the Adriatic and Ionian Council in Sarajevo (24 May 2023) under the Chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
Amb. Castellaneta has been Ambassador of Italy to the United States of America, to Australia and to Iran. From 2001 until 2005 he was Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Ministers Giuliano Amato and subsequently to Silvio Berlusconi, as well as their Personal Representative for the G8 and G20 Summits. During Mr. Castellaneta’s diplomatic career, he held many economic, political and social positions both at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and abroad, especially in the Italian Embassies in Somalia, Francia, Portugal and in the United Nations Offices in Genève.
In Rome, he also served as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Treasury Minister and then Spokesman of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Office for International Activities of the Italian Regions, Head of the Office of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Government Coordinator for the Reconstruction Program in Albania.