NOSTRA network of straits (Go to home)

You are in : Homepage > Partnership > Strait of Messina

Strait of Messina Province of Messina and Province of Reggio Calabria

In Italian: Stretto di Messina

General presentation of the strait

The Strait of Messina, located at the centre of the Mediterranean, connects Sicily to Europe and constitutes a bridge towards Afro-Asian countries of North Africa and Middle East. Historically the strait represents a connection between East and West, North and South in the Mediterranean Sea, which is the symbol of a natural context surrounded by culture. It is unique thanks to the shape of its landscape, its image as a mythical land, its function as an invaluable science laboratory due to its natural and historical features (thalassographic, seismic, biological).

Description of the strait

Both history and myth, identified at this point "the Strait" which joins / unites the two ancient cities of Magna Graecia: Zancle (the Messina of today) and Reghion - (the actual Reggio Calabria), a link between the eastern and western civilizations in a context characterized by natural phenomena that are also described in the Homeric poems. The hydrogeological conditions of the Strait of Messina are peculiar and its flora and fauna are equally uncommon. The intense hydrodynamism and the chemical characteristics of its waters affect the entire environment to the point of creating an extraordinary ecosystem, which is unique in the Mediterranean Sea for its biocenosis and abundance of species. This is why the Strait of Messina constitutes a unique source of biodiversity. Moreover, the Strait of Messina is located along one of the main migration routes of the Mediterranean and it is a key transition point for the migration of several species, including birds and sea fish. The strait is also known as one of the highest expression of sea civilization in terms of fishing methods dating back to the Greek period and as a crossroad of historical events. The main aim of the strait’s mobility is an integrated type of mobility combining all four modes of transport – road, railway, ports and airports– which can guarantee a continuity lacking today and can contribute to the creation of a gateway to national and European markets. The strait includes six ports: Gioia Tauro, Milazzo, Messina, Villa San Giovanni, Reggio Calabria and Tremestieri. Each facility has its own specificity but they should all be considered as part of a network. The strait therefore represents a gateway region offering a high quality service both in terms of local and international transport thanks to its strategic position in the Mediterranean. In this sense the “Sea Highway”, particularly the fast link between Messina and the Airport of the Strait in Reggio Calabria, plays a significant role in reinforcing the connection between the two shores as well as making this area more accessible to tourists. The strategic position of the strait at international level represents a key value to transform this area into a logistics platform in the local-global relations. The territories of the Province of Messina and the Province of Reggio Calabria, as they have identical geo-climatic conditions, attract significant tourist traffic and are strategic tourist areas in southern Italy.

Cross-boundary cooperation in the strait

In the last decades the governance of the integrated strait area has been debated first in terms of a scientific approach and later in terms of local policies. According to the principles and contents of the 2001 European Commission White Paper “European Governance”, such a complex territorial system requires an adequate model of governance that guarantees self-centred and self-generating processes of development. It gives to public and private agents the opportunity to play a strategic role in enhancing the peculiarities and skills within a broad project including both sides of the strait. In recent years a series of agreements among various institutions, including provinces, chambers of commerce, universities, offices of the navy league, professional associations, operating on both sides, have been signed. One of the agreements that has been put into practice is the creation of the Strait of Messina Maritime Authority, which is responsible for security, surveillance and monitoring of maritime traffic. The Province of Messina and the Province of Reggio Calabria, in terms of governance can play an important role in bringing a significant political change thanks to projects aimed at creating "The Strait Region".

Main environmental challenges of the strait

The main environmental challenges, inalienable key objectives, are related to preserve the flora and fauna, the rational arrangement of the slopes and river beds, as well as the conservation of springs, aquifers, coastlines and more generally air, sea and lakes. In particular, we must address the factors of human pressure: land use, transport (air emissions, noise, impact on the landscape), energy (energy consumption, renewable generation), waste (solid waste and special), tourism (either coastal or inner). Particular attention should be given to environmental components: air, climatic factors (air emissions, concentration levels of pollutants), water and marine environment (quality marine-coastal waters, quality of surface water bodies, water management), soil and subsoil (seismic and hydrogeological risks), nature and biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage.

Expectations regarding NOSTRA

The initiative for the creation of the Network of the European Straits has found in the territories of the Province of Messina and the Province of Reggio Calabria a strong and firm support because, thanks to this agreement, each of the European straits has the opportunity to give significant impetus to its own processes of development and internationalization. The Strait of Messina, for its central position within the Mediterranean and its natural configuration of "trait d'union" between Europe and the Mediterranean areas, is particularly interested in the realization of this important process. People from both sides of our strait have high expectations about the role that this network will play for the promotion of these areas and for the creation of a Europe based on the principles of subsidiarity, solidarity and sustainable development, where local communities will not be voiceless actors but protagonists of their future. The main interest is addressed towards the identification of common tools of governance in the management of issues affecting both territories of the strait and the possibility that the local authorities of the European Straits could become important interlocutors of the European, national and regional institutions.

NOSTRA Partners

Province of Messina / Provincia Regionale di Messina (Italy)

The Province of Messina directly influences regional and local policies and participates in strategic planning and programming with the Sicilian Region and the municipalities that fall within its territory. The planning activities cover all areas of life including the environment and risk prevention.

Province of Reggio Calabria/ Provincia di Reggio Calabria (Italy)

Representing the intermediate body between 97 municipalities and the Region of Calabria, the Province of Reggio Calabria (PRC) supports the economic, social and cultural development of the territory. The territory of PRC represents an area of remarkable naturalistic interest, also thanks to the proximity between sea and mountains and the great variety of fauna species of great importance. Through its Environment Department, which is very active on the territory, the PRC regularly carries out activities of environmental safeguard for the protection of particular areas and the conservation of endangered animal species, as well as activities of environmental education addressed both to young people in schools and to adults.
The Province is a member of AICCRE (Italian Section of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions) and TECLA (Association for the local and European trans-regional cooperation), which aim at building up joint strategies supporting local development, stimulating economic growth and giving precise answers to the expressed needs.

Contact

 

 

 

 

Provincia Regionale di Messina
Corso Cavour 87
98122- Messina
Italy
Contact person: Paolina Emanuele
Phone : +39 090 7761827
Paola Emanuele
www.provincia.messina.it

 

Province of Messina

 

Provincia di Reggio Calabria
Piazza Italia
89125- Reggio Calabria
Italy
Contact person: Giorgio Panuccio
Phone: +39 0965 364187
Anna Maria Franco
www.provincia.rc.it

 

Province of Reggio Calabria

Partners

Made possible with the Interreg IV C Program
Copyright 2012 Pas-de-Calais le Département
Legal Requirements - Credits