Italy in the Mediterranean: A Seminar for Promoting Cooperation Planning and Instruments

   
“Italy in the Mediterranean: Cooperation Planning and Instruments” is the title of the seminar which was held in Rome on March 18th at the Ara Pacis Congress Hall. The Sardinia region (Regione Sardegna) in collaboration with the Technical Assistance of the International Activities Office of Formez and Formed - Fondazione per il Mediterraneo organized the event on European Neighbourhood Policy Instruments directed to the Ambassadors from the South Mediterranean countries in Italy and the Italian regions. The round table aimed at informing the Ambassadors about the progress of the territorial cooperation programmes which directly involve the Italian regions under the Neighbourhood Policy 2007-2013. Another objective was to analyse in depth the opportunities for enhancement offered by the inter-regional and inter-municipal cooperation network which was established through the Support Programme to Regional Cooperation and MedCities Network.
The Councillor of the Sardinia Region Massimo Dadea, Ms Gabriella Salone from the Department for Public Administration, Senator Pasquale Giuliano (Formed) and President Carlo Flamment (Formez) opened the conference. The Ambassadors of Egypt and Syria in Italy as well as the representatives from the Embassies of Morocco, Israel, Palestinian Territories and Tunisia were present.
Plenipotentiary Minister Cosimo Risi outlined the European Union policy for the Mediterranean and its evolution from the French proposal in Spring 2007, while Mr Franco Zallio (ISPI), Chairman at the conference, held a speech about the role of Italy in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. Councillor Raffaele Langella (Ministry of Foreign Affairs – DGCIE) analysed in depth the operational programmes for 2007-2013 territorial cooperation. Ms Anna Catte, Director of the “Service for Community and International Affairs" of the Sardinia Region as Managing Authority of the OP ENPI CBC “Mediterranean Basin” as well as Mr dott. Antonio Piceno, Director of the Special Division “Decentralised Cooperation to Development and International Solidarity” of the Sardinia Region as Managing Authority of the OP ENPI CBC “Italy-Tunisia” and “Italia-Malta”, presented the work carried out by the task forces in defining the programmes.
Mr Franco la Torre from the Municipality of Rome presented Medcities Network, an instrument for the promotion of cooperation in the field of urban development. Ihab Fahmy, political-economic Councillor from the Embassy of Egypt in Italy, and Gila Rosiner, economic Councillor from the Embassy of Israel, highlighted the importance of cooperation in the Mediterranean Basin with particular reference to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Bernardo Notarangelo, Director of the Division for Mediterranean at the Puglia Region, and Gianpiera Usai, Executive from the Tuscany Region, concluded the seminar.