by MK
The Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government has signed an agreement with Italy’s Coast Guard to strengthen cooperation on maritime protection and coastal management.
The agreement was signed at the regional government headquarters in Trieste by representatives of the region and the General Command of the Port Authority–Coast Guard. Massimiliano Fedriga, the region’s president, attended the ceremony alongside Adm. Vincenzo Leone, deputy commander general of the Coast Guard, and Rear Adm. Luciano Del Prete, commander of the Port of Trieste and maritime director for Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Fedriga said the agreement was part of a broader effort to strengthen cooperation among public institutions, allowing them to respond more quickly and effectively to the needs of local communities.
Italy, despite its extensive coastline and central position in the Mediterranean, has not fully developed its maritime economy, Fedriga said. He argued that the sea represented an important economic resource for businesses and residents, but that its potential could be realized only alongside stronger efforts to protect marine environments and coastal areas.
“Safeguarding the sea and protecting our coastlines must come first,” Fedriga said, describing cooperation between regional governments and the Coast Guard as an important contribution to Italy’s broader maritime strategy.
Leone said the agreement offered an opportunity for joint progress on issues that require close coordination between institutions. He described the initiative as a potential model for the wider Mediterranean, particularly in sharing best practices for protecting marine and coastal environments.
Coastal areas, he added, are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, making coordinated action and the exchange of expertise particularly important.
