EUSAIR - Final Report

6 th EUSAIR
Forum
The Adriatic-Ionian Initiative
as a factor of integration,
cooperation and stability and
a political basis for EUSAIR
As part of a wider European effort to strengthen regional cooperation in the
post-Cold War period, a key initiative for enhanced cooperation in the Adriatic
and Ionian Region emerged from the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe,
established in 1999. This was a framework aimed at strengthening peace, democracy,
human rights and the economies of the countries of South Eastern Europe.
On this basis, the Italian Government presented the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative
at the Tampere European Council in Finland in October 1999, and it was formally
established by the signing of the Ancona Declaration in May 2000, in Ancona.
This was the political basis for strengthening Adriatic-Ionian territorial cooperation
and for promoting political and economic stability, thus laying
a solid foundation for European integration processes. The statement was
originally signed by the foreign ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia, and was later joined by Serbia, Montenegro,
North Macedonia and San Marino.
In the Ancona Declaration, the participating countries identified areas of
common interest: economic cooperation, transport and maritime cooperation,
environmental protection, tourism, culture, science and education, the fight
against illegal activities and interparliamentary cooperation. The parliamentary
dimension emphasizes the importance of parliamentary cooperation, with the
role of national parliaments as citizens of the closest institutions.
In order to organize and monitor activities and projects and ensure their
continuity, the countries have set up a Permanent Secretariat based in Ancona
to assist participating countries, regional authorities and local authorities
in implementing projects and developing cooperation. The operation of the
Permanent Secretariat is financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
44 | EUSAIR Slovene Presidency