Although it has always been an apparently infinite reserve of resources, first through fishing and then through hydrocarbons, in recent years the sea has increasingly assumed a mixed role, halfway between a place open to traffic and a sui generis “territory” of coastal powers epitomized by disputes over EEZs and even over the actual sovereignty of stretches of sea far beyond the limits of territorial waters. A maritime nation cannot be considered such if it is unable to control, defend and enhance its EEZ, while simultaneously safeguarding maritime routes. A country like Italy must therefore return to play a role that is as autonomous and self-sufficient as possible in leveraging its resources, especially at this time when rivalry between powers is transforming into a clash of hegemonies, both actual and aspirational.

Main topics:

• A renaissance of sea resources exploitation in the Italian seas 
• The challenge of the deeps
• The Italian value chain in sea resources discovery, exploitation and preservation
• Find the cost of freedom of the seas
• Tariffs are symptoms, not causes
• Mediterranean resiliency, or the calm before the (real) storm
• Shipbuilding for resources management and protection
• Offshore windmills: are the ports ready?

Chairperson
Roberta Busatto, Journalist

Institutional greetings
Pierpaolo Ribuffo, Head of the Department for Marine Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Title TBD
Massimiliano Lauretti, Division Admiral, Italian Navy

Security and competitiveness of underwater infrastructure. The Coast Guard’s approach
Edoardo Balestra, Rear Admiral, General Command of the Port Authority Corps – Coast Guard

Does the Arctic route threaten the role of the Mediterranean?
Leonardo Parigi, Director, Osservatorio Artico

Italy in the global Mediterranean: threats, risks, and opportunities
Leo Goretti, Head of the Foreign Policy Program, IAI

The subsea hub
Roberta Pinotti, President, Polo Nazionale della Dimensione Subacquea

Towards a sustainable future: opportunities and challenges for offshore wind in Italy
Fulvio Mamone Capria, President, AERO 

Are Italian ports ready for offshore wind power?
Francesco Di Sarcina, President, Eastern Sicilian Sea Port System Authority

Let water be our growth engine
Alessandra Pieri, Officer, Liguria Region

Critical marine and subsea infrastructure security
Gabriele Capomasi, Partner, PwC Strategy&

Conclusions
Gian Enzo Duci, Professor, Università degli Studi di Genova