The new National Marine Plan has been approved by Cipom.
It is the planning tool that the government and parliament equip themselves with to launch a unitary and strategic maritime policy.
"Italy has its own National Marine Plan." This was announced by the Minister of Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, Nello Musumeci, announcing that it was approved this afternoon by Cipom, "the Interministerial Committee for Maritime Policies, which met at Palazzo Chigi under my chairmanship."
Provided for by Article 12 of Legislative Decree 173 of 2022, the Maritime Plan is the planning tool used by the government and parliament to launch a unified and strategic maritime policy. It was drafted after several months of discussions and hearings, led by a dedicated committee of experts with the main public and private stakeholders operating in the "marine system," and according to the law, it must be updated every three years. The committee of experts, as revealed by SHIPPING ITALY in mid-May, is composed of Giovanni Acampora (Assonautica), Lucio Caracciolo (professor of international relations and strategic studies), Stefano Cataudella (professor emeritus of applied ecology), Salvatore Cordaro (attorney admitted to the Supreme Court of Cassation and former councilor of the Sicilian Region for territory and environment), Michele Nones (former advisor to the PCM and ministerial councilor for security issues; vice president of IAI), Vincenzo Pisani (Leonardo Civiltà delle Macchine Foundation), Pierpaolo Ribuffo (Northern interregional maritime commander), Alberto Rossi (Assarmatori), Luca Sisto (Confitarma) and Greta Tellarini (professor of navigation and transport law).
Representatives from the Ministries of Defense, Infrastructure, Environment, Culture, Finance, Agriculture, Tourism, European Affairs, PNRR, Foreign Affairs, Business and Made in Italy, and Regional Affairs participated in the approval of the document.
The National Marine Plan will now be submitted to the government and parliament.
"The first important step has been taken," said Minister Musumeci. "Italy, in accordance with the government's objectives, intends to look to the sea beyond the horizon with new eyes, increasingly attentive to its protection and enhancement. I would like to thank my government colleagues from Cipom, the Committee of Experts coordinated by Luca Salamone, and all the associations and individuals, both public and private, who have provided their essential contributions of ideas and proposals."
"The approval of the first Marine Plan represents an important step for Italy along the path to placing the Maritime Economy at the center of national development strategies," commented Giovanni Acampora, president of Assonautica Italiana, following Cipom's approval of the Marine Plan.
"I thank Prime Minister Meloni, the government, and especially Minister Musumeci," added Acampora, "for ushering in a new era for our country. It has been an intense team effort that has seen us engaged together over the past few months—experts and the mission structure, but also public and private stakeholders, institutions, and associations—in a shared laboratory that cannot and must not stop here. From today, we must all ride a new wave together that will make us leaders in Europe and the Mediterranean."
