The Conference "Towards an Integrated Maritime Policy at the level of the Mediterranean coastal Regions" was held on the 16 and 17 December in Rome, at the Sala Tirreno. The conference was opened by Mr Marco Mattei (Lazio Region's Regional Councillor for the Environment and Sustainable Development), Mr Ramon Louis Valcarcel (Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions), and Ms Monique Pariat (Directorate-General of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries – European Commission). The introductory session was chaired by Ms Josefina Moreno Bolarin, Executive Secretary of the Intermediterranean Commission. The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions was represented by Ms Eleni Marianou, Secretary General, while the FAO was represented by the Director of the Fishery Department, Mr Arni Mathiesen. During the debate, even the Regional Councillors Stefano Zappala and Francesco Lollobrigida intervened, and 12 Mediterranean regions spoke one after the other, describing the Spanish, French, Italian, Greek and Croatian experiences. The Conference was an occasion to meet and compare the role of the Regions in the IMP, and also to prove the essential role of the Regions for an effective territorial political action on the Mediterranean coasts. This conference brought new suggestions to the attention of the European Commission (3 representatives of Directorates-General were present)) to integrate the maritime policy action, entailing an even more direct and effective involvement of the Regions in the next 2014-2020 financial period. The acts are expected to be published by January.
For further info, the pictures and the conference acts, visit www.cmgizc.info