Una “crescita blu” per il sistema dei porti del Mezzogiorno

Through 2016 Reform of Port System, Italy aims to align a strategic sector to European standards and give to Italy the role of “Southern Pier” of Europe, i.e. main entry for people and goods for European Continent from South. This could permit to take advantage of the geographic advantage position compared to core ports. Aim is urgent due to 2015 doubling of Suez Canal, whose growth forecast is 93 ships each day within 2023, against the current 49 (SIDT, 2016). Through the reduction of the number of Port Authorities, and their transforma-tion in Port System Authorities, Italy aims at recovering competitive downside of Italian ports compared to Continental European ones. By rationalizing governance within the framework of Strategic Plan of Logistic and Ports, the Reform points to reconnect Port system to territory, and to facilitate an integrated land-sea planning (ESPON, 2013b), according to EU strategy for Blue Growth.Despite advantageous geographic position, Southern ports have a low competitiveness mainly due to lack of back-port infrastructures. This weakness obstructs the competitive access to European market. The recent creation of SEZ and the reorganization of port network of South Italy in seven Authorities, with an easy governance and reduced autonomy on strategic interest decisions, they are elements of a new relationship land-sea useful to relaunch Mezzogiorno competitive-ness, founded on maritime economy and Blue Growth.