The interregional and transnational project ECOPORT 8 - Environmental management of transborder corridor ports, aims to improve the overall environmental performance of the participated ports in the area of Southeast Europe. The reduction and elimination of the environmental annoyances caused by the continuously intensified activities of the ports and the sensitization of the relative sectors to comply with the regulations that have been set in international, european and national level constitute the initial goals of its implementation.   

The mission and the vision of ECOPORT 8, however, are higher. ECOPORT 8 philosophy lies on the recognition that the improvement of the maritime and coastal environment could only be achieved through the contribution of all the involved and interested parties with a view to benefit the citizens who live and work within or near the port areas. This means that all the ports which are interconnected via maritime corridors should share a common environmental policy. 

The existing certification systems, such as the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the international standards of Environmental Management ISO 14000 family, on which ECOPORT 8 is based, suggest best practices and affiliate standards for the protection of the environment. They cover every level and aspect of the activities of any organization and thereby they indisputably constitute valuable tools for applying the environmental policy and strategy selected each time, nevertheless, they are not compulsory.  

The development of the competitiveness of contemporary ports is linked directly to the implementation of the principles of sustainable development. Therefore, it is necessary that the ports produce/elaborate and apply environmental policies in accordance with the National and European Environmental law and the International Regulations. In addition, it is necessary to develop mechanisms for the environmental evaluation of their activities. 

Considering all these, the ultimate purpose of ECOPORT 8 project is to guide the ports –first and foremost the stakeholders activated within the participating countries– towards the adoption of a common environmental policy, as this will result from the project activities.

ECOPORT 8 partners’ network seeks –through the scientific approach and analysis of the real circumstances prevailing in the ports of the involved countries (with the particular national legislations and the different levels of incorporation of the european environmental law)– to compile a common, transnational and viable/sustainable protocol. This protocol will cover all the environmental issues and aspects which are linked to the ports and their nearby areas. In addition, it aims to develop and promote new tools and methodologies for the environmental and sustainable management of this sector.

ECOPORT 8 project is implemented in the framework of South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme (SEE Programme) and is co-funded by the European Union (through the European Regional Development Fund and Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance). There are participate as Partners seven (7) bodies representing four (4) member states of the E.U. (Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania) and four (4) bodies coming from two (2) candidates for accession to the E.U. countries (Albania, Montenegro). At the same time, five (5) Port Authorities from the collaborating countries participate in the project as Observers in order to monitor its activities.
 
More specifically, the following bodies constitute/form the partnership of ECOPORT 8: POLIBA - Bari Polytechnic (Italy), Institute of Water Problems Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Bulgaria), Patras Science Park S.A. (Greece), Universus CSEI - Training and Innovation University Consortium (Italy), Bari Port Authority (Italy), National Institute of Marine Geology and Geoecology (Romania), Polytechnic University of Tirana (Albania), Durres Port Authority (Albania), Institute of Marine Biology (Montenegro) and Port of Bar Holding Company (Montenegro).

The participating Observers are the Port Authority of Igoumenitsa from Greece, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport from Italy, the Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunication from Albania, the Romanian Naval Authority and the National Company "Maritime Ports Administration" S.A. Costantza from Romania.

The goal is a larger number of authorities, especially Port Authorities, to be approached so as to ensure the most objective and the wider possible dissemination and capitalization of the project’s outputs and results. 

ECOPORT 8
http://www.ecoport8.eu

SEE programme
http://www.southeast-europe.net