SHAPE successfully concluded

After three years of intensive activity, the SHAPE project was concluded at the Final Conference organised in Bologna, Italy, on February 21. The conference was attended by 60-odd participants representing the partners in the project and the authorities of the Emilia-Romagna Region which was the lead partner of the project. It was opened by Ms. Paola Gazzolo, Regional Minister for Territorial Safety, Soil and Coast Defence, and Civil Protection. The main objectives and the course of implementation of the project were summarised, and the results of each work package were presented. Special emphasis was placed on the results obtained in the Emilia-Romagna region. Possibilities were considered of follow-up activities, and the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region was identified as a viable option. The general conclusion was that the project produced good results that could be of great benefit for the policy makers and coastal managers of the Adriatic countries. Also, PAP/RAC will share the experience gained in this project throughout the Mediterranean region, especially with regard to the implementation of the articles 7 and 8 of the ICZM Protocol.