An opportunity to discuss the future of connectivity between the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Central Europe, with the participation of many ministers from the countries of the Balkan Region, high-ranking representatives of countries interested in the IMEC Corridor and representatives of the business world, demonstrating the strategic role of this Region in the development of new logistics chains between Asia and Europe.
By Antonio TAJANI
The conflict in the Middle East has opened a new phase of intense international instability. The priority of the Italian Foreign Ministry has been, above all, to assist Italian citizens involved in the crisis, ensuring that they can return to Italy safely. However, any international crisis also requires a broader view of its consequences. In addition to the tragedy of war, in fact, there are also profound effects on global economic balances.
The tensions that permeate the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz clearly demonstrate how fragile some of the main arteries of international trade are. The ongoing crisis is already exerting strong inflationary pressure on the prices of gas, oil and other strategic goods, such as chemical fertilizers, with direct consequences also on global food prices. When these nodes become more exposed to geopolitical tensions, the urgency to strengthen the security and diversification of trade routes becomes clear.
In recent years, Europe has already faced a similar challenge. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine imposed a rapid diversification of energy supply sources. In a few months, we reviewed infrastructures, supplies and partnerships to guarantee security and continuity for our economic systems. Today, the crisis in the Middle East forces us to reflect in a similar way on trade routes. It is precisely in this perspective that the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project must be seen. It is not simply a line drawn on a map, but a possible reorganization of the logistical and industrial chains between India, the Persian Gulf and Europe, which could redefine trade flows and strengthen the role of the Mediterranean as a strategic connecting space between Asia and Europe, with potential benefits for Italy estimated at up to 26 billion euros.
When global trade routes change, economic geographies also change. New trade corridors also create new logistical and productive spaces: territories that attract investment, host distribution centers and develop industrial activities linked to international value chains. If one of the main entry points into Europe of these routes is the Mediterranean and, in particular, the northern Adriatic, its natural area of ​​projection will not be limited to Western European markets. It will inevitably extend towards Central Europe and the Western Balkans, which constitute the geographical and infrastructural bridge between the Mediterranean and the heart of the continent.
Due to its geographical position, proximity to the European market and gradual integration with European Union standards, the Western Balkans could become an integral part of this new logistics architecture: not only as a transit area, but as a genuine economic hinterland of the routes between Asia and Europe, capable of attracting investments and strengthening Regional production chains. The infrastructure of the Balkan Region could also benefit from this development, contributing to the management and distribution of part of the trade flows that will reach Europe through this corridor.
In this scenario, the Mediterranean returns to assume a central strategic role. Italy, due to its geographical position, is naturally a logistical platform between Europe, Asia and Africa. The Italian port system represents one of the largest strategic infrastructures of the European continent: an extensive network of ports connecting the Mediterranean with the main economic and production corridors of Europe.
Within this system, the northern Adriatic occupies a privileged position in connecting the Mediterranean with Central Europe. Trieste, for its history, geographical position and infrastructural connections, represents one of the most natural nodes of this network. It is no coincidence that Trieste hosted on 17 March two important events dedicated to Regional cooperation and new economic routes: the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the Central European Initiative (InCE) and a forum on the IMEC Corridor.
An opportunity to discuss the future of connectivity between the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Central Europe, with the participation of many ministers from the countries of the Balkan Region, senior representatives of countries interested in the IMEC Corridor and representatives of the business world, testifying to the strategic role of this Region in the development of new logistics chains between Asia and Europe.
Strengthening the links between the Mediterranean, Europe and the Indo-Pacific Region means strengthening the economic security of our continent. In this new geography of global routes, Italy can and must play a leading role. (koha.mk)
(The author is Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy)