Dear Mayor Salvetti, President Giani,

Honorable Dario Nardella,

Representatives of other institutional and scientific authorities,

Dear participants and guests,

Thank you for inviting me to speak today.

Congratulations on your event “Blue Livorno – biennale del mare e dell aqua”!

It brings stakeholders together to discuss challenges and opportunities for

• the environment,
• the blue economy,
• culture and tourism, and
• academia.

All sectors are relevant to the sustainable relationship between humankind, sea, and water – the holistic approach central to Blue Livorno.

Your idea of the Livorno biennale as a laboratory for Europe is excellent.

We aim to foster collaboration and exchange of best practices.

Collaboration starts at the local and regional levels. Its great to see participants from all over Italy and international guests included.

This is crucial for all countries and regions on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea – our Mare Nostrum.

The Mediterranean is a space of shared aspirations and historical and cultural ties.

And its natural to reach out to like-minded partners.

This is why, for the first time, we have a dedicated portfolio for the Mediterranean in the current European Commission.

Im proud to be entrusted with strengthening cooperation between the European Union, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf region.

My mission is to bring the partners around the Mare Nostrum closer together – both people and economies.

There is a lot of potential for all of us.

Our new Mediterranean focus is a clear sign that together we can achieve more.

Just think of the win-win scenarios for both sides.

We can work on renewable energies, clean tech, climate change mitigation, digital and transport connectivity, migration, security, and the blue economy.

Im glad that Blue Livorno is a valuable contribution from the coast of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea to our joint Mediterranean project.

Dear participants,

As I mentioned earlier, things start at the local level.

In this respect, the plastic-free initiative at your conference is an excellent example.

Plastic waste in our oceans is a threat to the marine environment.

And avoiding that waste in the first place is the most sustainable way to tackle the issue.

I look forward to many more initiatives like this.

I wish you a successful and inspiring conference.

Thank you.