The Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Manlio Di Stefano, attended the Rabat meeting of the Steering Committee of the WestMED Initiative for the Sustainable Development of a Blue Economy in the Western Mediterranean.
Di Stefano emphasised the growing relevance of commercial traffic in Mediterranean ports, making it necessary to continuously increase their efficiency and improve the quality of port infrastructure and logistic services.
He said: “At the same time, we must take care of our fragile Sea, which is now bearing the brunt of climate change and of the overexploitation of resources, assuring a sustainable development of the fishing and aquaculture industries.”
He went on: “International cooperation is essential in this context, and this initiative is a fundamental instrument. Italy will assume the co-presidency next January with the aim of focusing on a sustainable development aimed at obtaining tangible and visible results in terms of infrastructure, the development of coastal communities and environmental protection.”
