Advancing Adriatic Connectivity: Strategic Insights from the Croatian Port Days in Zadar
30/03/2026
Following a highly productive week at the Croatian Port Days (Dani hrvatskih luka), held in Zadar from March 25th to 28th, we are proud to reflect on the strategic dialogues that took place regarding the modernization and future of regional port infrastructure. The event gathered policymakers, industry experts, and maritime stakeholders to address the evolving challenges and opportunities within the Adriatic transport ecosystem.
A major highlight of our participation was the engaging panel discussion, "Suradnja bez granica: Europske luke i EU projekti" (Cooperation without Borders: European Ports and EU Projects). Expertly moderated by Tanja Vujnović Kereš, univ.spec.oec., the session featured invaluable insights from a distinguished lineup of panelists: Elena Montironi, Mara Pitaccolo, Alberto Cozzi, Martina Antunović, Đoni Štambuk, and Dino Županović.
The discussion served as a powerful reminder that modernizing the Adriatic maritime landscape cannot be a solo journey. Instead, it relies heavily on deep-rooted cross-border synergies and a shared commitment to sustainable, digitalized transport solutions.
During the panel, we had the opportunity to highlight the growing collaborative impact between several key regional initiatives. By exchanging best practices and identifying overlapping goals, the project team explored synergies with a network of impactful EU-funded projects, including ADRIJOROUTES, SUPERALFUEL, WATERBRIDGING, ABBA, DIGITPORTS, MILEPORT, PRESPORT, and CIRASIM.
The consensus from Zadar is clear: by actively aligning our collective efforts - ranging from multimodal connectivity and digital transformation to the adoption of alternative fuels and the promotion of the blue economy - we are actively creating a more efficient, sustainable, and seamlessly integrated transport network for both the Adriatic basin and the wider European community.
We extend our sincere thanks to the event organizers, our moderator, and our fellow panelists for fostering such an open and forward-looking discussion. The insights gathered at the Croatian Port Days will continue to inform our ongoing work to enhance maritime connectivity and deliver sustainable transport solutions across borders.
