South Adriatic Area is an important transport connectivity nod between Italy, Albania and Montenegro. As such, the stakeholders need to further improve their coordination in planning and implementation to increase the efficiency of regional project identification, maturation, acquisition and implementation. To address those challenges, the Ministries of Transport of Albania and Montenegro, the Puglia Region as well as specialized think tanks for Albania and Montenegro have joined forces in a tri-Lateral project called SAGOV South Adriatic Connectivity Governance project.

SAGOV will also be instrumental in promoting the South Adriatic region in the Berlin Process context, increase the efficiency of the existing cross border coordination mechanisms between three countries, as well as provide tools and mechanisms to be used in development stages of strategic connectivity projects among Italy, Montenegro and Albania.

The project kick off meeting was held on 29 May in Tirana. In his welcoming speech, Mr. Ardian Hackaj, Director of Research at Cooperation and Development Institute and Project Coordinator said that improving connectivity within the Western Balkans, and of the region with the EU partners, is a key factor for higher growth, more jobs, and more intensive trade and cultural cooperation. However, he continued, there is an insufficient joint vision, joint coordination on planning, preparation and financing, or of joint-promotion of those joint endeavors.

SAGOV is cofunded by the Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro Programme and is implemented by Cooperation and Development Institute (Lead Partner) in partnership with the Albanian Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Montenegrin Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, Region of Puglia, and European Movement in Montenegro.