EASYCONNECTING

EASYCONNECTING (Europe-Adriatic Sea-WaY Freight) aims to study and analyse all the main infrastructural bottlenecks and transport service inefficiencies in the IPA area in order to find&test proper solutions and put forward recommendations for policy-makers and national/regional representatives. These propositions are essential to develop a common strategy on transport and logistics ensuring the common development of the area in the near future.

The new TEN-T Methodology envisages few core network transport corridors, which have to foster multimodality, the deployment of renewable energies and clean fuels, capable of connecting the main transport nodes (ports, cities, logistics platforms, airports). This is in line with the overarching objective of deploying more competitive and efficient freight transport, which is essential to spur economic development in Europe and fulfill the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy on competitiveness and employment.

These issues are at the core of future developments of the whole Adriatic area where too many disparities and structural weaknesses remain between different States and Regions. The recent launch of the new maritime strategy for the Adriatic & Ionian Macro Region underlines the need to step up cooperation in the area by exploiting existing resources, structures & regulations to foster cross-border partnerships, mobilizing local, regional and national actors towards common objectives.

Road freight transport still plays a major role and rail and inland navigation are not sufficiently exploited. Accessibility analysis shows that railway requires much longer than road travel, ports are often not well connected to the transport network and logistic centres and the existing inter-modal terminals are still underutilized.

EASYCONNECTING engages public actors at local, regional, and national levels, as well as private entities such as chambers of commerce, operators, and the business community, to define and test common initiatives on innovative multimodal freight transport solutions.

To support the efficient connection of maritime transport modes with the hinterland and cross-border areas, the project facilitates collaboration between port authorities and the competent authorities to harmonize and develop an integrated freight transport system.

The proeject carries out a detailed study of the main bottlenecks and weaknesses affecting the development of freight transport policies. Additionally, data on freight flows and O/D (Origin/Destination) matrices are assessed. The results of the study, along with business cases, will lead to the definition of a set of common guidelines on possible solutions for more efficient and sustainable freight transport based on multimodal choices. Subsequently, these guidelines will form the basis for cross-border cooperation agreements aimed at harmonizing freight transport policies and services.

The second objective, the development of new multimodal infrastructures and the modernization of existing ones, is achieved through a series of studies and market analyses on the current limitations of the transport network and the necessary investments to overcome them. Particular attention is given to micro-investments in port infrastructure to assess the potential development of Adriatic ports for freight transport services.

The third objective, strengthening institutional cooperation and capacity building through the exchange of know-how and experiences, is achieved through the sharing of best practices, techniques, and knowledge gained from previous cooperation programs and partner initiatives.

Within the project, ITL contributes to the cross-border communication activities and develop a specific communication plan for Ravenna. It also scouts business and institutional actors both to diffuse the EASYCONNECTING results. Furthermore, the Foundation coordinates the partnship from a technical and methodological point of view, developing 4 business plans and pre-feasibility studies for new maritime freight services and new intermodal landside
services.

Lead Partner:

Veneto Region – Logistics Unit, IT

Partners:

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, SRB

Corfù Port Authority, EL

Venice Port Authority

Ravenna Port Authority, IT

Chamber of Commerce Industry Craft and Agricolture of Campobasso, IT

FINEST, IT

Institute for Transport and Logistics Foundation (ITL), IT

Regional Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Size Enterprises Alma Mons Ltd. Novi Sad, SRB

Marche Region, IT

Levante Port Authority, IT

Dubrovnik Neretva County, HR

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Primorska, SI

Abruzzo Region, IT

Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport – Coast Guard Headquarters, IT

Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, MNE

Faculty of Traffic and Communications, BIH

Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia – Central Directorate for Infrastructure, Mobility, Spatial Planning and Public Works – Mobility Division, IT

Ancona Port Authority, IT

Emilia-Romagna Region – D.G. Infrastructural Networks, Logistics and Mobility Systems, IT

Region of Apulia – Councillorship for Strategic Infrastructures and Mobility, Logistics and Great Projects Office, IT

Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME), EL

Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, SRB

Provincial Secretary for Economy, Employment and Gender Equity (Government of AP Vojvodina), SRB

Italian Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS), IT

Igoumenitsa Port Authority S.A., EL