On September 22, 2025, the seventh edition of the North Adriatic Scientific Colloquium – Current Legal Topics / Giornata di studio del Nord Adriatico – temi giuridici di attualità is taking place at the Faculty of Law in Rijeka.
The event was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Law in Rijeka, Professor Dr. Dario Đerđa, who expressed his support and gratitude to all those who, through years of dedicated work, have contributed to establishing and maintaining this colloquium as a forum for academic discussion on legal and related topics concerning relations between Croatia, Italy and Slovenia.
This year’s colloquium is also attended by His Excellency Mr. Paolo Trichilo, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Republic of Croatia, who in his opening address titled “Italia e Croazia, paesi partner nell’Unione Europea / Italy and Croatia – Partner Countries in the European Union”, emphasised several key points:
- He welcomed and supported the initiative of the Faculty of Law in Rijeka to organize a conference on legal topics relevant to the North Adriatic region, recognising it as an excellent example of the academic community’s role in strengthening dialogue between countries, particularly between Italy and Croatia.
- He highlighted Croatia’s significant journey in international integrations: UN, NATO, EU, Schengen, the eurozone, and its ongoing efforts toward OECD membership.
- He underlined that Croatian-Italian relations are based on shared values and excellent bilateral cooperation in numerous fields, adding the expressions “piena sinfonia / full symphony” and “ottimo dialogo / excellent dialogue” to characterise the relationship.
- He pointed out the 2009 Memorandum that established the Coordinating Committee of Ministers, whose most recent meeting was held in Zagreb in 2024.
- He emphasised that Croatia and Italy are partner countries, with their bilateral relations further strengthened by frequent high-level visits and robust economic ties (with over 300 Italian companies operating in Croatia) and recent agreements signed on defense (airspace surveillance), economic zone delimitation, and scientific and educational cooperation.
- He also highlighted the importance of trilateral cooperation between Croatia, Italy and Slovenia, particularly in the energy sector (Hydrogen Valley, Irena gas field).
- Regarding future activities, he stressed the need for continued close cooperation between Croatia and Italy on international and European issues, particularly in relation to the EU enlargement process towards the Western Balkans.
- He highlighted the role of the autochthonous Italian community in Croatia, especially in this part of the country, as a bridge of friendship between the two nations.
This address clearly highlights the importance of bilateral relations between Italy and Croatia and places them within the current European and international context. It set the perfect tone for the successive discussions.