ROME – “United towards the future” is the appeal launched by the president of Confitarma, Mario Zanetti, from the stage of the Confitarma 2025 Public Assembly, which was also included in the ShipDay format, held today at the conference venue of Confindustria, the Auditorium della Tecnica technology hub in Rome’s Eur district.
“An appeal for unity” addressed to the entrepreneurial, institutional, and political community as a whole, to the country’s system, as the only instrument to face global competitiveness.
“United towards the future” is written in huge letters on the large screen that dominates the Assembly and occupies the entire wall behind the speakers. Speaking are government representatives, the three ministers: of Defense Guido Crosetto, of Enterprises Adolfo Urso, of Tourism Daniela Santanchè; Three deputy ministers: of Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi, of Justice Francesco Paolo Sisto, of Environment and Energy Security Vannia Gava.
Among the military authorities: the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino and the General Commander of the Harbour Master’s Office – Coast Guard, Admiral Sergio Liardo. In a discussion on strategic themes for the growth and competitiveness of the Italian shipowning industry, with particular attention to the challenges of the energy, digital, and regulatory transition.
Course towards a shared navigation
Up to the awaited report by the president of the shipowners, Mario Zanetti, who charted the course for “a shared navigation” – emphasizing –”Only by uniting all forces, will we be able to guide the change, strengthen Italy’s position in the Mediterranean and on the world markets and build a broader and more solid maritime community.” ` “Only through a shared vision, collaboration and coordination between institutions, businesses and social partners” – he continued – “will we be able to face global challenges and enhance the role of Italy and its companies in the maritime economy” – a role in which “our country is capable of leading Europe”. The course is the one towards the “growth and development of our country, its businesses, and its workers”.
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European policy
The thrust of the Italian shipowners’ president focuses on European policy, regarding the Green Deal and the ETS, instruments that need to be rethought within the scope of global competitiveness: “The Green Deal, as it is set up, ends up burdening both businesses and consumers” – “It no longer makes sense to maintain instruments like the ETS and the FuelEU which would entail double taxation” – “We strongly ask that Europe take a clear and unequivocal position”.
What is the way to relaunch the country’s competitiveness? In first place, there must be a long-term industrial plan to bridge the gap with Europe, followed by the need for more resources for the dual energy and digital transition, and a great deal of administrative and regulatory simplification supported by digitalization. This is the course towards “growth, development and the good of the country” concludes President Zanetti.
“Last year” – Zanetti emphasized – “we set ten strategic objectives: today we can say we have strengthened our pillars of the International Register and Tonnage Tax and started the first simplification reforms, as well as having invested in the energy transition.”
It is now necessary to complete this path, accompanying it with support tools adequate for the sector. At the same time, we must invest even more in work and training because without new skills the future of Italian maritime cannot be built.”
The themes are those already known and of which shipowners are the spokespersons, as indeed the maritime cluster in general has been for some time in various forums and for which requests are being made. However, every year the presence of government representatives grows, testifying to the increased political attention towards the sector.
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Motorways of the Sea, the request for 100 million per year
Attention that shipowners ask to be translated into facts: this is the case with the theme of the “energy transition” as emphasized by the president of Confitarma – “it must be pursued also through the increase in allocations for Sea Modal Shift for the motorways of the sea” – Today “resources are largely insufficient to support the instrument that has demonstrated its effectiveness in preventing modal shift. For this reason, Confitarma asks that the fund be increased to at least 100 million euros per year in order to fully enhance the potential of the Motorways of the Sea.”
Geopolitics
In the background, the geopolitical context and the crisis of routes: war in the Black Sea (interruption of grain, oil, gas shipments) the critical issues in the Suez Canal and Gulf of Aden, tensions in the Taiwan Strait (impacting almost half of the world’s container traffic) the strategic perspective of the Arctic route.
But also the protectionist measures from August 7th: the 15% duty on European imports with a strong impact on GDP for Italy and potential losses for exports of up to 22 billion; a double-digit decline in exports to the United States and loss of jobs.
Minister Crosetto
Responding to the call for unity launched by the shipowners’ president at the Assembly was Minister Crosetto, speaking of the “ability to create critical mass that the maritime sector must have, together with politics and institutions.” – “We must tear down walls and barriers and form alliances – specified the Minister of Defence – “a Navy ship serves the country when it defends the shipping routes of the Red Sea” – “as a defense of the nodal points of the country’s economy and its ability to continue to produce “.
The Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto
