Adriatic – Ionian Initiative (AII)

ADRIATIC IONIAN INITIATIVE
The Ionian Adriatic Initiative (IAI) was formalized in Ancona, Italy, on May 20, 2000. Seven countries participated in the founding event, among which was Albania. Today there are eight member countries of NAJ, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Italy, Serbia and Slovenia.

The aim of the Adriatic Ionian Initiative is to encourage and deepen regional cooperation, seeing this as a contribution to the European integration of the member countries. The Permanent Secretariat of NAJ has its headquarters in Ancona, Italy. Its Secretary General is currently Ambassador Fabio Pigliapoco.

One of the collaborative platforms of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative is also the Network of Universities of the Adriatic and Ionian countries, called UNIADRION, which includes 25 universities and academic centers.

The Forum of the Chambers of Commerce and the Forum of the Cities of the Adriatic and Ionia exercise their activity under the umbrella of NAJ.

Albania takes the next leadership of the Ionian Adriatic Initiative

Albania held the next chairmanship of the Ionian Adriatic Initiative in the period of one year, June 2013 – May 2014. This is the second time that Albania takes the chairmanship of this initiative. For the first time, she chaired the Ionian Adriatic Initiative in the period June 2005 – May 2006.

Albania had this presidency at a very special moment for the relations between the member countries as well as for the relations of the initiative with the European Union. The discussion started within the European Union, on the adoption of a Macro Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region, has reached a very important stage. At the meeting of the European Council on December 14, 2012, the Heads of Government of the EU member states invited the European Commission to approve the proposal for a New Strategy of the Ionian Adriatic Macro Region in 2014.

In these circumstances, the period June 2013 – May 2014 coincides with the final phase of the adoption of the aforementioned strategy and requires that all activities within the NAI as well as the work of the member countries converge, with the common goal, to arrive at the moment of the adoption of the strategy, fully prepared and able to manage together with the institutions of the European Union, the new strategy and to transform it into an effective operational platform.

An important priority of this presidency was also the strengthening of regional cooperation and the continuation of the integration processes of the countries of the Western Balkans towards the European Union.

Calendar of events of Albania’s presidency

DATE	VENUE	EVENT
27 September 2013	TIRANA	1st Committee of Senior Officials
7 November 2013	ALBANIA	Round Table on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
November/December 2013	ALBANIA	Round Table on Transports and Maritime Cooperation
December 2013	TIRANA	Conference of the European Strategy for the Adriatic Ionian Region – Raising awareness and promoting the EUSAIR
January 2014	ALBANIA	Round Table on Rural Development
January 2014		Round Table on Tourism
February – March 2014	ANCONA	II Committee of Senior Officials
February – March	TIRANA / BRUSSELS	Conference on the Adriatic Ionian Macro Region in cooperation with the EU Commission
March	ALBANIA	Round Table on Inter-University Cooperation in the framework of UNIADRION
March	ALBANIA	Round Table on Protection Against Fires
March – April	ALBANIA	XII Conference of the Speakers of AII Parliaments
Last week of of May	TIRANA / BRUSSELS	III Committee of Senior Officials
Last week of May	TIRANA / BRUSSELS	XVI Adriatic Ionian Council