by InTrieste
Five Adriatic countries—Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, and Montenegro—have launched a regional alliance to promote sustainable development of the Adriatic Sea, with a focus on environmental protection, economic resilience, and social cooperation.
The initiative, presented in Ancona at the historic Loggia dei Mercanti, brings together national and regional representatives committed to revitalizing the so-called “blue economy.” The meeting was convened by Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida, and included his Croatian and Slovenian counterparts, David Vlajcic and Mateja Calusic, along with senior officials from Albania and Montenegro.
The alliance aims to coordinate cross-border policies on fisheries, marine ecosystems, and coastal development. A central concern shared by participants was the future of traditional fishing, with officials warning of the potential disappearance of small-scale fisheries if urgent action is not taken.
“This is not about a photo opportunity,” Lollobrigida said. “It’s about setting new rules and avoiding the real risk of no longer having fishermen in our seas.”
While concrete policy measures were not finalized, the summit signaled a political commitment to deeper collaboration and a shared recognition that the Adriatic’s challenges—ranging from overfishing to climate-related impacts—require a unified response.
