17. Conceptualization and Planning of the Friuli Venetia Giulia Region as a “Territorial Strategic Platform” on the North Adriatic Gateway

The Friuli Venetia Giulia (FVG) region borders with the Italian Veneto region, the Land of Carinthia in Southern Austria and the Republic of Slovenia. In geographical terms, the potentialities of this territory are evident. The region is interested by two important European corridors: the Baltic–Adriatic Corridor and the Mediterranean Corridor. Through the Adriatic Sea, the FVG region presents direct connections with the southern Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal. This, in turn, means great possibilities to intercept a consistent part of freight flows between the Far Eastern countries (particularly China and India) and the most industrialized and developed Central European regions. This perspective, also well known at the national level, requires a radical change in both the regional and national transport policies. With a decisive commitment in the development of seaports and in the completion of the Baltic–Adriatic Corridor, it would be possible for the FVG region and northeast of Italy, to become a global platform for international freight flows.