by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interview: Enrico Bullian, an independent member of the regional council for the Patto per l’Autonomia-Civica
A regional councilor in Friuli Venezia Giulia has welcomed a civic proposal calling for a long-term plan for Monfalcone, a shipbuilding town in northeastern Italy, and urged a renewed focus on social cohesion and integration policies.
Enrico Bullian, an independent member of the regional council for the Patto per l’Autonomia-Civica, said he viewed “with attention and interest” the initiative launched by a group of local figures advocating a shared vision for “Monfalcone 2040.” The appeal has also been endorsed by regional trade unions, the local Catholic community and representatives of migrant groups.
Bullian described the proposal as particularly significant because it originates outside formal political structures, arguing that this distance from electoral competition gives it a “disinterested and generous” character. He said the initiative reflects an effort to address what he described as longstanding structural and social challenges in Monfalcone, a town that has experienced sustained demographic change linked to immigration and industrial employment.
The councillor also pointed to what he called a persistent climate of political and social polarization, which he said has contributed to a negative perception of the city at local, national and international levels. He argued that a more evidence-based approach, including updated sociological research, would be necessary to design effective policies.
Bullian noted that the only comprehensive sociological study of the town dates back to 2003 and said that similar proposals he had previously advanced in the regional council had been rejected. He added that the foreign resident population in Monfalcone has increased by more than 4,000 people over the past decade, underscoring the need, in his view, for targeted integration strategies.
Alongside the civic initiative, Bullian said he is preparing a regional bill titled “Measures in support of social cohesion and the social revival of the city of Monfalcone and its surrounding area.” The proposal would include a new sociological study, strengthened presence of public institutions, and interventions across sectors including housing, labor, healthcare, education, mobility, and early childhood services, as well as measures promoting cultural pluralism and religious freedom.
He said he plans to present the draft to the mayor of Monfalcone and other local officials, with the aim of refining it through consultation with stakeholders.
