A new Parliamentary Intergroup on the Blue Economy has been officially launched in Rome, an initiative spearheaded by Senator Simona Petrucci (Fratelli d’Italia) and supported by 41 Members of Parliament. The aim is to give national prominence to the sea as a strategic resource—long underestimated but essential for the country’s economic development.

“The Parliamentary Intergroup on the Blue Economy was created to provide concrete support through projects, initiatives, data, and sectoral studies, ultimately leading to actionable proposals and targeted, effective legislation,” stated Senator Simona Petrucci, President of the Intergroup, during the press conference held at the Senate.

“We are talking about a sector that stretches along 8,000 kilometers of coastline, generating a total value of €178 billion—about 10% of the national GDP—with 227,000 companies and over one million workers.”

“We’ve already begun drafting a list of key topics we want to focus on. I want to thank the 41 MPs from across the political spectrum and from every corner of Italy who have joined the Intergroup. This cross-party and nationwide approach will be one of our greatest strengths.”

The Intergroup will also be supported by a technical advisory committee, which will help ensure each topic is addressed with professionalism and accuracy.

Key focus areas will include:

• Sustainable fishing

• Port infrastructure

• Employment and workforce training

• Innovation

• Streamlining bureaucracy

“We’re ready to make a meaningful contribution across all these areas,” Petrucci concluded.

Source: Adnkronos.com