The enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans, the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the growing strategic importance of the Arctic, and the Euro–Adriatic–Ionian geopolitical arena of consular diplomacy are among the key themes of the 2026 edition of GeoAdriatico (www.geoadriatico.it), the international geopolitics symposium taking place in Trieste from 11 to 14 June.

Organized by the Cinzia Vitale Initiative for Culture (www.vitaleinitiative.it) in partnership with the University of Trieste, GeoAdriatico will also explore topics related to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, the G20 as a platform for cooperation on transport, port infrastructure and maritime affairs, as well as issues concerning the protection of the planet.

“GeoAdriatico embodies the international and multidisciplinary vocation of the University of Trieste. The major challenges of our time cannot be addressed within the boundaries of a single discipline. They require the integrated contribution of the social, economic, legal, technological and environmental sciences. In this context, our University provides a network of internationally recognized expertise, helping to make Trieste a privileged laboratory for dialogue among diplomacy, scientific research and economic development. It is precisely through collaboration among fields of knowledge, institutions and scientific communities that the most effective responses to the global challenges of the present and the future can emerge,” said Mauro Tretiach, Deputy Rector of the University of Trieste.

“In a global scenario marked by conflicts currently involving more than ninety countries around the world,” stated Roberto Vitale, President of GeoAdriatico and of the Vitale Initiative, which conceived the international symposium, “international diplomacy is more essential than ever in building peace. This active commitment to dialogue and cooperation represents the beating heart and primary mission of the symposium, reinforcing Trieste’s central position within the new global geopolitical landscape.”

GeoAdriatico enjoys the patronage, among others, of the Italian Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of University and Research, the Ministry of Defence, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the collaboration of the European Commission Representation in Italy.

Among the speakers confirmed for the 2026 edition of GeoAdriatico are Ambassador Francesco Maria Talò, Special Envoy for IMEC at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Admiral Pierpaolo Ribuffo, Head of the Department for Maritime Policies at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Ambassador Giorgio Marrapodi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations; Marco Alberti, Italian Ambassador to Albania; Marcelo Knobel, Executive Director of TWAS (The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World); Paolo Trichilo, Italian Ambassador to Croatia; Andrea Romanino, Director of SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies); and Luca Gori, Italian Ambassador to Serbia.

The opening ceremony of GeoAdriatico, scheduled for Thursday, 11 June at 9:30 a.m. in the representative hall of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and reserved for invited guests, will also feature contributions from Marco Consalvo, President of the Port Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea; Vincenzo Garofolo, Commissioner of the Port Authority of the Central Adriatic Sea; Carmelo Barbarello, IMEC Coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Francesco Benevolo, President of the Port Authority of the Central Northern Adriatic Sea; Massimo Campailla, Professor of Maritime and Transport Law at the University of Trieste; Paola Del Negro, Director General of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS); and Dario Giacomin, Vice President for Underwater Product Development at Fincantieri.

Among the more than 70 participants representing over 10 countries are Stefano Pilotto, Professor of International Relations at MIB Trieste School of Management; Antonio Paoletti, President of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce; Roberto Musneci, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania; Alessandro Lombardi, Head of CEI (Central European Initiative) Projects; Giuseppe Mancini, Vice President for Intelligence and International Security at Leonardo; Antonio Gurrieri, CEO of Alpe Adria; Nicola Polato, Head of North-East Italy at SIMEST; Pasquale Silvestro, Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania; Gabriele Bellon, General Director of BCC Venezia Giulia; Daniel Burcea, Director of Banca Transilvania’s Italian branch; Paul Vatamanu, CEO of Vatamanu Coperture; Francesco Caputo, HR Director of Prysmian Romania; Gianluca Meomartini, Vice President of Sales at Bitdefender; Claudio Taboga, General Manager of Vard Shipyards Romania (Fincantieri); and Maria Teresa Tombini, Senior Advisor for Group International Public Affairs at Assicurazioni Generali. They will participate in the panel on economics, science diplomacy and cybersecurity taking place on Thursday, 11 June, at 2:30 p.m. in the main hall of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce.

GeoAdriatico, which benefits from the media partnership of the ANSA news agency, will also feature Brigadier General Carlo Di Somma, President of the Joint Armed Forces Steering Committee for the Arctic, Sub-Arctic and Antarctic Environment at the Ministry of Defence; Fausto Ferraccioli, Director of the Geophysics Section of OGS; Luigi Matarazzo, General Director of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division; Fabrizio Orengo, Director of the Italian Navy Hydrographic Institute; Giuliana Panieri, Director of the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council (CNR); and Stefano Polli, columnist for ANSA.

On Friday, 12 June, at 9:30 a.m. in the representative hall of MIB Trieste School of Management, a session dedicated to the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans will take place. Following opening remarks by Maria Tripodi, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, speakers will include Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, Chair of the Senate Committee on European Union Policies; Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative; Anila Bitri Lani, Ambassador of Albania to Italy; Mauro D’Ubaldi, Deputy Secretary General of Defence; Andreina Marsella, Italian Ambassador to Montenegro; Elisabetta Dovier, Programme Manager at the Central European Initiative; Senator Tatjana Rojc, member of the Senate Committee on EU Policies; Francesco Deana, Professor of European Union Law at the University of Udine; and Andrea Tracogna, Dean of MIB Trieste School of Management and Professor of Business Administration at the University of Trieste.

On Friday, 12 June, at 4:00 p.m., in the Desiata Red Hall of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce, a partner of GeoAdriatico, discussions will focus on Space in the Age of Invisible Conflicts. Speakers will include Anna Gregorio Michelazzi, astrophysicist at the University of Trieste; Beatrice Manassero, from the Space and Scientific Cooperation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Fabrizio Rovatti, Project Manager at Area Science Park; Carlo Baccigalupi, Professor of Cosmology at SISSA; Federico Battera, Professor of African History and Institutions at the University of Trieste; Massimo Comparini, Director of Leonardo’s Space Division; Valter Bonvicini, Director of the Trieste Section of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN); Guido Bortoluzzi, Professor of Strategy and Organization at MIB Trieste School of Management; and Andrea Vacchi, Professor of Physics at the University of Udine.

GeoAdriatico 2026 will also host a panel dedicated to students of the Sustainable Blue Growth Master’s Programme, directed by Mounir Ghribi. The students themselves will serve as speakers on Saturday, 13 June, at 9:30 a.m. in the Red Hall of the Port Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea, addressing topics related to the sea as an essential element for the future of societies. They will be joined by Steve Taylor, Coordinator of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley project, and Rodolfo Taccani, Professor of Energy Systems at the University of Trieste.

Finally, on Saturday, 13 June, at 10:00 a.m., in the representative hall of the General Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI), a discussion will focus on the new Euro–Adriatic–Ionian geopolitical framework, with the participation of Marco Ferruzzi Balbi, Consul of the Republic of Poland; Massimiliano Fabian, Consul of the Republic of Cameroon; Agnese Ghersi, Consul of the Republic of France; Adina Lovin, Consul General of Romania; Sabrina Strolego, Consul of the Republic of Austria; and Lucia Montesanti, Professor of Sociology of Political Phenomena at the Magna Graecia University.