NAPA relaunches cooperation deal

The Ports of Venice and Chioggia, Trieste and Monfalcone, Ravenna, Koper and Rijeka have signed a joint declaration to implement the commitments made by the three countries to develop sustainable, smart port policies and connections to the TEN-T networks.

“The Northern Adriatic is the natural outlet for key markets, and stronger cross-border cooperation will enable us to enhance the potential and specificities of all ports of call in the region,” said Fulvio Lino Di Blasio, president of NAPA and of the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority.

NAPA has committed to permanent cross-border cooperation to help reduce the environmental impact of port operations, building on best practices identified by the CLEAN BERTH, SUSPORT and EALING projects.

Initiatives include using digital technologies to optimise logistics and transport both at sea and on land as well as better integrating NAPA ports in the TEN-T network, in particular by strengthening last-mile rail connections.

Finally, the declaration sets three priorities for the five North Adriatic ports – to complete the missing links in the TEN-T network, to extend the TEN-T and MOS to non-EU countries and to include rail freight transport and the maritime dimension in the European Territorial Cooperation Programmes 2021-2027.