On the occasion of “Sea Day”, established in 2017 and celebrated on 11 April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking part in awareness-raising and educational initiatives aimed at promoting a culture of the sea from a scientific, recreational and economic perspective, as well as raising public awareness about the need to protect marine waters and biodiversity. Sea Day is particularly addressed to younger generations and involves the network of 54 Italian schools abroad, as part of the Italian Education System Worldwide.
The theme of the sea, in its various dimensions—security, environment, and the promotion of the blue economy—is a key priority for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).
As part of its 2024 G7 Presidency, Italy has paid special attention to the security of critical underwater infrastructure. On 2–3 December, Rome hosted a meeting of the G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea group, aimed at strengthening international cooperation for maritime security in a region crucial to global trade flows.
The environmental aspect of the sea is also a particular focus, especially within the framework of multilateral negotiations in which MAECI is involved. These include the negotiations for the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), which Italy joined in 2023. MAECI also supports Italy’s position on the law of the sea at both European and international levels, and plays a key role, through its Permanent Representation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in promoting the interests of Italy and Italian stakeholders in the maritime transport sector. Furthermore, the Ministry supports this sector and its workers by providing the necessary consular services in the field of maritime navigation.
The sea is also the focus of initiatives promoted abroad by the network of Embassies, Consulates and Italian Cultural Institutes. One example is the photography exhibition “Siamo Mare. We are Sea”, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and curated by the Università Politecnica delle Marche, aimed at showcasing the natural and scenic heritage of the Italian coastline and national excellence in scientific research. The exhibition accompanied the world tour of the training ship Amerigo Vespucci, which helped highlight Italian excellence at every port of call.
To share the beauty and traditions of Italy’s coastal territories with children around the world, MAECI also produced a special volume “Geronimo Stilton. A Thousand Wonders in Blue” in collaboration with Edizioni Piemme–Mondadori Libri.
Finally, together with the Italian and European Space Agencies and Telespazio/e-Geos, the Ministry launched the exhibition project “Mediterranea”. Dedicated to promoting the history and beauty of the Mediterranean Sea through satellite imagery from the Italian COSMO-SkyMed system, the exhibition highlights the major challenges facing this vast marine region, such as the effects of climate change, global warming and plastic pollution. At the same time, it encourages reflection on the opportunities of the Mare Nostrum, including the blue economy, sustainable agriculture, and the preservation of artistic and cultural heritage.
In the field of the blue economy, Italy has continued to strongly support the WestMED initiative, promoted by the European Union to develop a sustainable blue economy in 10 countries across the Western Mediterranean. Italian maritime clusters (both industrial and scientific/technological) play a leading role in promoting collaborative projects with southern Mediterranean countries, financed by the European Union.
Through its development cooperation activities, Italy also actively contributes to the protection of marine ecosystems and the promotion of a sustainable blue economy, in line with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda. MAECI supports several development cooperation initiatives in priority countries such as Mozambique and Tunisia, to promote the sustainable management of natural resources, the safeguarding of marine heritage, and the creation of inclusive economic opportunities, leveraging Italy’s system-wide expertise and involving local communities. Italy also pursues these goals through participation in multilateral initiatives dedicated to ocean governance, such as the Union for the Mediterranean.
While the international dimension of the sea is becoming increasingly significant within the Italian Foreign Ministry’s activities, at the national level MAECI also contributes, through the Interministerial Committee for Sea Policies (CIPOM), to the implementation of the “Sea Plan”, adopted by the Government in 2023.