Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Italy-Croatia

Date of latest update: 2026-01-21

Description

Description (EN):

The current proposal focuses on the improvement of ports’ inter-modality capacities to make them greener, more ICT based & more integrated with the hinterland’s needs. Low level of integration among different modes of transportation & insufficient investments in sustainable and low-carbon transportation technologies are characterising several regions in the Adriatic area. The Croatian and Italian Adriatic coasts are rich in touristic destinations, which are reached by millions of tourists every year. Even though the road transportation is still predominant, the number of tourists that are reaching Adriatic towns and cities by ferries and airplanes is significantly increasing. Unfortunately, most Adriatic ports and airports are suffering from lack of connections with other modes of transportation, causing serious traffic congestion problems, especially during the summer seasons. There is also a strong need to develop and to implement more sustainable & technologically advanced solutions in the maritime transport & port sectors, considering that the majority of ports facilities are lagging behind the EU average when it comes to sustainable environmental performances. The overall objective is to develop a multi-modal coordinated sea-land approach based on sustainable and technologically advanced solutions to interconnect Croatian and Italian ports with urban areas and airports, improving passengers’ mobility. In order to do that, the project will implement a set of structured activities based on cross-border and cooperative approach and will produce two main outputs: > Sustainable & ICT solutions’ testing actions: a first phase of capitalisation of the available knowledge from Interreg projects will lead to a definition of a cross-border transfer strategy, with the aim to test new sustainable & innovative ICT based solutions, which will speed up the passengers processing from/to ports and airports and urban areas. All PPs will then define and test joint pilot actions that will lead to the implementation of a Manual on tested solutions. > Strategic Roadmaps interconnecting ports with urban areas & airports: all PPs will work jointly to formalise the tested intermodal connections by drafting a Strategic Roadmap aimed at transferring the CROSSCONNECT model to other port authorities. The roadmap will be presented at Cross-border Forum and at dedicated roundtables with all ports operating in the Adriatic Sea with the aim of engaging the ports and port authorities and to explain on how to adapt modernised and sustainable operational and technological solutions that have been tested through the project and to commit them towards the creation of a new or modernised connection with airports and urban transport authorities to enhance the mobility of passengers. The project will be implemented by 4 Port Authorities, 2 Airports, 2 Urban Transport Authorities & 2 Associated Ports. Moreover, the abovementioned outputs will reach a wider range of TGs, both at regional and national level, taking advantage of the networking opportunities to transfer and capitalise the gained knowledge. In particular other ports, airports and urban transport authorities located in the Programme area, municipalities where involved ports are located, regional authorities which own the airports and companies which are working on management of transportation services related to ports and airports, such as airline and ferry companies and other transportation services. The cross-border multimodal sea-land approach that the project intends to promote and implement in the Adriatic area will be considered of a strategic importance because it will allow ports to define joint pilot actions both per type of connection and per territorial level. This will represent an innovative aspect, since the definition of the testing action will be conducted primary at cross-border level, matching the pilot actions on the same type of intermodal connection (port-airport and port-urban area) in the 2 programme countries; this will bring to a strong cross-border cooperation that will see 4 partners from the 2 Countries working together in the joint definition of the pilot intervention. The project will ensure an adequate capitalisation of the available solutions and know-how, by capturing knowledge produced by previous experiences and widening it to the interconnection between ports and airports and urban areas in a comprehensive approach that will include innovative ICT based and sustainable solutions. This will represent a key innovation aspect of the project, since a strategic approach involving the key transport means used by tourists and passengers in the Adriatic (ports and airports) and the urban areas is still missing. Their effort in terms of coordination with hinterland facilities will improve the quality of the services offered for passenger mobility and foster an innovative and more sustainable mobility and connectivity in all the Adriatic area.

Actual Achievements (EN):

In its first semester, CROSSCONNECT focused on the assessment of capitalisation and transfer opportunities in the field of sustainable intermodal transport. A kick-off meeting was held in Dubrovnik on 18.04.2024, which also coincided with a first joint working session among the partners on assessing the previous knowledge deriving from Interreg projects ADRIGREEN, INTERPASS and INTERCONNECT. During this session, the main facts, results and achievements of the three identified projects were analysed; after the meeting, all partners kept on collabortating in analysing identified outputs and practices in a transfer perspective on their own territories. A second follow-up technical meeting was held online and each partner worked to produce an individual SWOT analysis for the application/adaptation of identified measures into the local context. A thorough capitalisation assessment was then performed by each partner on each of the selected measures derived from ADRIGREEN, INTERPASS and INTERCONNECT; as a result, the Coordinator produced a draft version of a Cross border assessment and capitalisation report aimed to describe both the assessment methodologies put into place, and also the outcomes in terms of transferability and replicability in each of the project territories. In parallel, a Cross-border transnational working group (CBTG) was set up, whose main aim is to further analyse the applicability, replicability and scalability of identified capitalisation solutions through a multilateral and multi-actor perspective. Each partner appointed one internal staff member and one external expert, who took part in the first CBTG meeting held in Venice on 15.07.2024. A second CBTG meeting in Pula has also been scheduled for 05.09.2024. Before the conclusion of the semester, partners also started to discuss a common methodology to translate all analysed measures into a collection of mobility solutions, aimed to explain their full potential and application rationale into the context of CROSSCONNECT. Based on this last step, a cross-border Transfer strategy will be developed in the next semester to provide a complete overvirew of the transfer, replication and adaptation possibilities for existing tools and technologies into the Italy-Croatia transport systems. As a result of all activities undertaken, the project has progressed towards the common objective of capitalising and transferring existing knowledge on innovative and green intermodal solutions to a plurality of actors and different contexts, sharing similar problems but also diverse challenges and strengths. In this sense, cross-national cooperation has been crucial in highlighting the true capitalisation potential of assessed measures & tools by means of comparing the different situations and reaching a common sense on which intervention fields are most strategic. In direct continuation with the assessment and capitalisation activities, all partners have started to plan and preliminarily design a series of joint pilot actions, to be developed on the basis of the lessons learnt from the existing tools, knowledge and technologies. In WP1, joint efforts continued on the Assessment & capitalisation phase, which led to the finalisation of D.1.1.1 Cross-border assessment and capitalisation report in its final version (in connection with the draft version produced in PR1). Additionally, the second meeting of the Cross-border technical working group (CBTG) took place in Pula under the coordination of PP5 ZLUP; after its conclusion, the final version of the CBGT report (D1.2.1) has been produced based on the structure already defined in PR1. As WP1 conclusion, partners also gathered and re-elaborated the knowledge produced into a final collection of identified mobility solutions (D1.3.1) and into a joint Transfer Strategy (O1.1) providing insights on how to address innovative mobility solutions in a wider capitalisation perspective at macro-regional level. With the finalisation of WP1, partners also achieved the Specific objective 1 - To capitalise and transfer the available knowledge and strategies on innovative and green intermodal solutions. Particularly, partners managed to define a a joint framework enabling to capitalise on existing measures, ICT tools and carbon-reducing solutions, in function to adapting and adopting them at joint level and on a regional scale. With the finalisation of WP1 activities, a reference base for the transfer of existing knowledge in the field has been delivered. In WP2, LP1 led the initial phase of pilot action definition by providing all partners with guidance on how to produce their Local Action Plans (1 per project region) and Joint Action Plans (for port-airport and port-urban connections respectively). All partners developed their own planning documents based on the common format and started to address the preparation of public tendering procedures for the selection of goods suppliers and service providers. Consequently, initial steps have been completed for Specific Objective 2 (To develop and test innovative green solutions and ICT tools for enhancing the processing of passengers between ports and other transport infrastructures (urban transport authorities and airports) to be partly achieved. Discussion and mutual exchange around innovative green solutions and ICT tools have occured among partners at multiple project stages, leading to outlining a guiding testing framework for each territorial testing action through the finalisation of D 2.1.1 Pilot action plans - both at joint regional level and at joint transport-type level. Joint communication and dissmeination activities continued in PR2 under the lead of PP8 STP and through the contribution of all partners, particularly in feeding the official project website and the social media channels. In close collaboration with the JS, PP8 also revised and updated the Project Communication Strategy delivered in the previous project period. On 25 October 2024, one representative from LP1 DBV and one from PP2 DPA attended the Adriatic Sea Forum 2024 edition in Ravenna, where CROSSCONNECT was presented at the Interreg VI-A Italy - Croatia CBC Programme 2021-2027 Round Table on “Making maritime tourism and trasport more sustainable: the contribution of Interreg Italy-Croatia projects”. The session was also attended by two representatives from the Port of Ancona (Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Centrale - Associated Partner). In period 3, partners focused on the preparation and setup of their pilot testing actions (A2.2). The following actions have been jointly carried out at each pilot action site: a) LP1 and PP2 (Dubrovnik) LP1 and PP2 have finalised a beta version of an ICT tool for integrated timetabling and info sharing. The tool is now being tested, and the most suitable options for awareness-raising and usage among target audiences are being assessed (for a full deployment and users' feedback collection starting from period 4). In parallel, both partners have adopted the foreseen solutions for green mobility at their own premises: the purchase of one electric tractor for baggage handling and of electric bicycles for LP1; the purchase of one electric vehicle for port passenger transfer operations for PP2. b) PP3 and PP4 (Venice) During period 3, partners were able to address the joint Feasibility Study as the main document guiding the pilot action design and rationale. Based on this tool, both partners are preparing and launching their public tendering procedures. The Feasibility Study has pointed out that regulatory frameworks, combined with key security and customs incompatibilities between the two partners’ infrastructure, are blocking a seamless “one-touch” baggage process. P3 and PP4 are therefore in the process of developing a lighter, more feasible “Fly & Cruise” pilot centred on charter flight connections, where procedural alignment is more achievable. c) PP5 and PP6 (Pula) PP5 installed a set of double "smart" containers with solar power for separate waste collection; the partner is also addressing integrated data sharing, together with the technical specification for the purchase of an electric charging station. In parallel, PP6 purchased one e-bus that started to operate a new bus line (co-developed by PP5 and PP6) connecting the port area with the city centre. PP6 also installed a ticket vending totem for tickets sale and recharge, for which a dedicated smart ticketing software has been installed. d) PP7 and PP8 (Brindisi) PP7 AdSPMAM completed preparatory tasks for the tender procedure related to the procurement of software services and necessary equipment to address data acquisition from PP8, visualization of passenger ships and publication of real-time information on variable message panels. The tender launch for equipment purchase is now scheduled for October–November 2025. PP8 STP finalized the definition of the installation sites for its smart bus shelters, identifying five key mobility hubs within the city. The public procurement procedure for the supply and installation of smart shelters, EPD (E-ink) information poles, and digital totems has been closed at the end of period 3. In A2.2, PP2 DPA produced a first draft version of D2.2.1 Manual on tested solutions, which partners started to fill out by adding the pilot actions’ technical information as they unfolded. Despite the delays in pilot actions implementation, partners started to work at D2.2.2 Videoclips on tested solutions under the guidance of PP8 STP, who elaborated a series of technical specifications and a storyboard template in order for all partners to plan the filming of their videos with a common storytelling approach. Similarly, partners started to address passenger surveys inside A2.4 in order to collect passengers’ feedback as soon as pilot actions are finalised. PP2 DPA elaborated the general questionnaire rationale and tools. As a result of all activities carried out, additional steps were made towards the reach of SO2, thanks to a considerable advancement in innovative green solutions development. The actual testing and data collection framework has only been addressed in its initial steps, with further progress expected during period 4 and beyond. Consistently, the communication objective of “raising awareness on tested connections and related solutions” has been approached through initial dissemination and awareness-raising of the pilot solutions (where already implemented); more significant progress will be made when the concrete operativity of the implemented green and ICT solutions in all pilot territories will attract users and stakeholders to test them. Joint communication and dissemination activities also continued in PR3 under the lead of PP8 STP and through the contribution of all partners, particularly in feeding the official project website and the social media channels. On 27-28 March 2025, representatives from LP1 DBV, PP2 DPA and PP5 ZLUP attended the Croatian Port Days in Dubrovnik, where CROSSCONNECT was presented in its focus, objectives and achievements. Representatives from the Port of Rijeka, (Associated Partner) have also been involved to take part in the event. Representatives of LP1 DBV and PP3 NASPA also attended the Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism initiative “Path that Last” in Split (25-26 June 2025), participating in the thematic workshops.

Project outputs: Transfer Strategy(EN)
TESTING OF SUSTAINABLE AND ICT BASED CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PORT AND THE HINTERLAND(EN)
STRATEGIC ROADMAPS INTERCONNECTING PORTS WITH URBAN AREAS AND AIRPORTS(EN)

Thematic information

Coastal management and maritime issues Multimodal transport ICT and digital society

Priority: (VI-A_I-Hr_3) Sustainable maritime and multimodal transport

Priority specific objective: RSO3.2. Developing and enhancing sustainable, climate resilient, intelligent and intermodal national, regional and local mobility, including improved access to TEN-T and cross-border mobility

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO3 A more connected Europe by enhancing mobility

Type of intervention: 109 Multimodal transport (not urban)

Partners (11)

Lead Partner: Zračna luka Dubrovnik d.o.o

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 883013408

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 63145279942 | 63145279942 | Hrvoje.Spremic@airport-dubrovnik.hr (EN)

Department: N/A

Address: Dobrota, 20213 Cilipi, Croatia

Department address: Dobrota, 20213 Cilipi, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: https://www.airport-dubrovnik.hr

Total budget: EUR 348 700.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 278 960.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 69 740.00

Lead Partner: Zračna luka Dubrovnik d.o.o.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 883013408

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 63145279942 | 63145279942 | Hrvoje.Spremic@airport-dubrovnik.hr (EN)

Address: Dobrota, 20213 Cilipi, Croatia

Department address: Dobrota, 20213 Cilipi, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: https://www.airport-dubrovnik.hr

Total budget: EUR 348 700.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 278 960.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 69 740.00

Società Trasporti Pubblici Brindisi S.p.A.

Name: Società Trasporti Pubblici Brindisi S.p.A.

Department: N/A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 00112550744 | 00112550744 | amministrazione@pec.stpbrindisi.it (EN)

Address: S.S 613 C.da Piccoli Z.I., 72100 Brindisi, Italy

Department address: S.S 613 C.da Piccoli Z.I., 72100 Brindisi, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: https://www.stpbrindisi.it/index.php

Total budget: EUR 230 060.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 230 060.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 100.00%

Contractors:

Name: Orange Public Management Srl
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02336400748
Name: Massimiliano Toraldo
VAT registration or tax identification number: 00112550744

Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Meridionale (Porti di Bari, Brindisi, Manfredonia, Barletta, Monopoli e Termoli)

Name: Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Meridionale (Porti di Bari, Brindisi, Manfredonia, Barletta, Monopoli e Termoli)

Department: N/A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 08032850722 | 08032850722 | protocollo@pec.adspmam.it (EN)

Address: Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo , 70122 Bari, Italy

Department address: Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo , 70122 Bari, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: https://www.adspmam.it/

Total budget: EUR 250 220.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 250 220.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 100.00%

Contractors:

Name: Orange Public Management Srl
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02336400748

Pulapromet d.o.o.

Name: Pulapromet d.o.o.

Department: N/A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 96328250067 | 96328250067 | alen.petrovic@pulapromet.hr (EN)

Address: Starih statuta, 52100 Pula, Croatia

Department address: Starih statuta, 52100 Pula, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.pulapromet.hr

Total budget: EUR 220 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 176 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 44 000.00

Contractors:

Name: Autobus d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 77383886713
Name: PENTA d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 44365765619
Name: A.M.R. COMMERCE d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 09614148157
Name: FAKULTET PROMETNIH ZNANOSTI
VAT registration or tax identification number: 25410051374

ŽUPANIJSKA LUČKA UPRAVA PULA

Name: ŽUPANIJSKA LUČKA UPRAVA PULA

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 882831145

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 98035365721 | 98035365721 | info@lup.hr (EN)

Address: Riva, 52100 Pula, Croatia

Department address: Riva, 52100 Pula, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.lup.hr

Total budget: EUR 240 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 192 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 48 000.00

Save S.p.A.

Name: Save S.p.A.

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 893498526

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 02193960271 | 02193960271 | savespa@legalmail.it (EN)

Address: Viale Galileo Galilei, 30173 Venice, Italy

Department address: Viale Galileo Galilei, 30173 Venice, Italy

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: https://www.veneziaairport.it

Total budget: EUR 269 120.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 269 120.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 100.00%

Contractors:

Name: techneprojects s.r.l.s.
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT04977890286
Name: AD-ET
VAT registration or tax identification number: CHE234920891
Name: S.I.R.
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT01196270506

Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Settentrionale - Porti di Venezia e Chioggia

Name: Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Settentrionale - Porti di Venezia e Chioggia

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 938957382

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 00184980274 | 00184980274 | autoritaportuale.venezia@legalmail.it (EN)

Address: Santa Marta, 30123 Venice, Italy

Department address: Santa Maria, 30123 Venice, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: http://www.port.venice.it

Total budget: EUR 281 720.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 281 720.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 100.00%

Contractors:

Name: techneprojects s.r.l.s.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 04977890286
Name: San Giorgio srl
VAT registration or tax identification number: 05551020828
Name: Otello Segni
VAT registration or tax identification number: 00862880119
Name: ATVO Spa
VAT registration or tax identification number: 00764110276
Name: PASTICCERIA LOREDANA S.A.S.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 03904490277
Name: BAG PLANET Sas
VAT registration or tax identification number: 03070670272
Name: CFLI
VAT registration or tax identification number: 03395860103

Lučka uprava Dubrovnik

Name: Lučka uprava Dubrovnik

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999526704

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 51303627909 | 51303627909 | dpa.kristina@portdubrovnik.hr (EN)

Address: OBALA PAPAE IVANA PAVLA II, 20000 DUBROVNIK, Croatia

Department address: OBALA PAPAE IVANA PAVLA II, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: http://www.portdubrovnik.hr

Total budget: EUR 248 960.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 199 168.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 792.00

Autorità di sistema portuale del mare Adriatico meridionale (porti di Bari, Brindisi, Manfredonia, Barletta e Monopoli)

Name: Autorità di sistema portuale del mare Adriatico meridionale (porti di Bari, Brindisi, Manfredonia, Barletta e Monopoli)

Department: N/A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 08032850722 | 08032850722 | protocollo@pec.adspmam.it (EN)

Address: Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo , 70122 Bari, Italy

Department address: Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo , 70122 Bari, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: https://www.adspmam.it/

Total budget: EUR 250 220.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 250 220.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 100.00%

Contractors:

Name: Orange Public Management Srl
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02336400748

Lučka Uprava Pula

Name: Lučka Uprava Pula

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 882831145

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 98035365721

Address: Riva, 52100 Pula, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.lup.hr

Total budget: EUR 240 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 192 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 48 000.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Public Transport Company Brindisi S.p.A.

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

Southern Adriatic Ports Authority (Ports of Bari, Brindisi, Manfredonia, Barletta, Monopoli and Termoli)

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

Pulapromet d.o.o.

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

REGIONAL PORT AUTHORITY OF PULA

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

Save S.p.A.

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

North Adriatic Sea Port Authority - Ports of Venice and Chioggia

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

Port of Dubrovnik Authority

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

Dubrovnik airport Ltd

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

Southern Adriatic Sea Port Authority (Ports Of Bari, Brindisi, Manfredonia, Barletta And Monopoli)

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

Dubrovnik Airport Ltd.

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Partners and Projects info

Pula Port Authority

Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

Project acronym: CROSSCONNECT

Project ID: ITHR0200418

Project start date: 2024-03-01

Project end date: 2026-04-30

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

INTERPASS (EN) | INTERPASS, supported by Adriatic-Ionian Programme INTERREG V-B Transnational 2014-2020, was mainly focusing on the enhancement of the intermodal connections between ports and airports in the Adriatic–Ionian Region in order to improve the processing of passengers (mainly cruise tourists and travelers reaching tourists destinations located on Adriatic and Ionian costs) during the peak season.
The WP1 of CROSS CONNECT project consists of assessment and capitalization of already identified solutions and available knowledge from INTERPASS Capitalization manual on best practices, their replicability and adaptability, Integrated Strategic Plan for better connection port-airport, Transnational evaluation report on intermodal solutions to improve and speed-up tourists’ transit between ports and airports. Based on this assessment, PPs will jointly work to a Transfer Strategy document.
Last but not least point of synergy with INTERPASS project is the partnership involved in CROSS CONNECT project that includes regional airports and main port authorities located in the Adriatic region which are already involved in the implementation of INTERPASS project and, for this reason, have a deep knowledge of the state of art in implementing local strategies and policies for multimodal and intermodal connections. (EN), ADRIGREEN (EN) | ADRIGREEN, supported by 2014 - 2020 Interreg V-A Italy - Croatia CBC Programme, was focusing on the improvement of the integration of Croatian and Italian ports and airports with other modes of transportation in order to enhance the processing of passengers during the summer seasons and to improve environmental performances of the Adriatic maritime and aviation systems.
The capitalization of this project will follow a specific path that start from the WP1 of CROSS CONNECT project by the assessment of the ADRIGREEN Capitalization Report that include useful data related to intramodality, best practise, operational and technological schemes to reduce environmental impacts of airports and ports, innovative solutions, procedures and techniques, SWOT analyses, funding schemes and ends with the evaluation of ADRIGREEN Joint Action Plan for intermodal and multimodal passengers’ transportation from/to ports and airports. As a key deliverable of WP1 of CROSS CONNECT project, a Transfer Strategy document will be realized. An added value to the implementation of CROSS CONNECT project is represented also by the involvement of ADRIGREEN project partners whose staff is already acquainted with some basic environmental monitoring tools, environmental strategic plan, and identification of codes of practice to lower the impacts of airport management. (EN), INTERCONNECT (EN) | INTERCONNECT project, supported by Interreg ADRION Programme, has produced relevant results and recommendations for the proposed project. In particular, the Strategic Roadmap that has been developed in the framework of INTERCONNECT project named “Roadmap; Towards passengers sustainable mobility in ADRION region” has given a significant contribution in terms of measures and fields of interventions in connecting ports with hinterlands. Two aspects of the roadmap and their related measures has been considered of strategic importance for this project, especially:
- Aspect 2: The future of anyADRIONport
Measures: New services/enhanced bus services connecting ports to the hinterlands, adequate information sharing provided with ICT tools for user information provision.
- Aspect 2a: Special Part dedicated to cruise
Measures: Creation of CIS tools to share passenger and baggage information for cruise passengers, sustainable intermodality promotion of port area as well as connection to hinterlands. (EN), GREEN C PORTS (EN) | The GREEN C Ports project, supported by Connecting Europe Facility 2020-2023. will pilot the use of digitalisation tools and technologies to support port environmental sustainability and performance of port operations in the TEN-T Core- Network. By analyzing the data gathered from the technologies applied, it will be possible to build models to predict in real time the impact of the environmental conditions over port operations (ship loading/unloading, port congestion, traffic management, etc.) and also over nearby city areas. The case studies results and the main benefits of the technologies piloted in GREEN C Ports project could be considered of a relevant importance in the framework of the implementation of CROSSCONNECT project, giving a concrete contribution to the overall project objective that will foresee the development of a multi-modal coordinated sea-land approach based on sustainable and technologically advanced solutions. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 088 780.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 671 024.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 88.76%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 671 024.00. Co-financing rate, 88.76%.
Others: Amount, EUR 206 224.00.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Cross-border assessment and capitalisation report
Project Communication Strategy
Cross-border technical working group procedure and follow-up report
Collection of mobility solutions
Pilot action plans
Manual on tested solutions
Videoclip on tested solutions
Testing site visits’ package
Interviews to key stakeholders
Appraisal reports on implemented measures
Passenger Satisfaction feedback
Joint evaluation of pilots
Cross-border Evaluation Report
Strategic Roadmap working document
CROSS-CONNECT model Digital Infographics
CROSS-CONNECT Adriatic Forum package
Memorandum of Understanding
Roundtables proceedings

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion The project is coherent with EUSAIR as it will contribute in a clear way to flagship “THE ADRIATIC-IONIAN MULTI-MODAL CORRIDORS” and specifically to the second specific objective of Pillar 2 "To develop reliable transport networks and intermodal connections with the hinterland, both for freight and passengers". Considering that the objective of the project is to improve intermodality of ports with urban
areas and airports, with the aim of improving passengers’mobility,the partnership will act in coherence with some of the main recommendations included in the Strategy. Countries of the Adriatic Ionian Basin need indeed to modernize the transportation sector also through intermodal investments. This project will achieve the territorial cohesion through better connections and integration among various modes of transport in Italy&Croatia. In addition, as specified in the Pillar 2,it will support and accomplish innovative transportation solutions with reduced costs and improved efficiency.
EuropeanGreenDeal CROSSCONNECT project will contribute to the comprehensive strategy on Sustainable and Smart Mobility that 2020 Eu Green Deal intends to implement. The project will be implemented by contributing to both levels of the intervention approach foreseen in the core strategy of the EU Green Deal, the Trans-European Transport Network TEN-T policy:
- close gaps, remove bottlenecks and technical barriers, as well as to strengthen social, economic and territorial cohesion in the EU;
- improved use of infrastructure, reduced environmental impact of transport, enhanced energy efficiency and increased safety.
CROSSCONNECT will be implemented also in the framework of another EU Green Deal priority related to the sustainability of blue economy. In particular the project will contribute to this objective by promoting the adoption of sustainable mobility solutions that will be defining firstly by the consortium during the testing phase of the project and will then implemented during the pilot actions.
Developed ICT tools and solution of CROSSCONNECT project will contribute to the achievement of the EU Green deal measure 2.1.5. Accelerating the shift to sustainable and smart mobility where need for smart traffic management enabled by digitalisation is recognised.
Also, adopted green intermodal solutions, developing new electric urban public bus lines by replacing old combustion-engine vehicles, installing recharging stations in ports and electrifying airport baggage operations will result in less pollution in city, port and airport areas.
Other EU Blue Economy strategy
CROSSCONNECT project will be implemented in the framework of the new approach for a sustainable blue economy adopted by the European Commission. In particular the project will tackle directly one of the objectives of the strategy, the development of the infrastructure in coastal areas in terms of green sustainability, while benefiting tourism and the coastal economy. The involvement of different port authorities is a key factor for the implementation of the project. Their crucial role to the achievement of the objectives of climate neutrality and zero pollution, as it has been underlined in the Blue Economy Strategy, will be strengthen by CROSSCONNECT approach that will strengthen the adoption of innovative and sustainable solutions with the aim of optimizing traffic flows in and around ports.
Other WHITE PAPER - Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area
At EU level CROSSCONNECT is coherent with main transport strategies such as “Roadmap to a Single EU Transport Area” as it tackles directly the issue of multimodal transport solutions by investigating innovative schemes to enhance greater integration of the modal networks: airports, ports, railway, metro and bus stations, that should increasingly be linked and transformed into multimodal connection platforms for passengers.
EU explicitly encourages the integration of air and sea modes of transport with hinterland connections and integration of systems and services (ticketing, passenger reservation, baggage transport) which make easier for passengers to switch from one mode to another.
CROSSCONNECT intends to carry on and implement some of the 10 strategic goals enounced in the White Paper, such as establish the framework for a European multimodal transport information, management and payment system, and improving infrastructure in the context of trans-European networks and integration of the new Member States into the network. In fact the project will foresee a joint testing phase carried out by ports and other transport facilities (airports and urban local transport) involved in the project implementation with the aim of adopting sustainable mobility solutions, bothe per type of connection and at territorial level, that could be capitalize also by other key actors in Adriatic area.
Other Transport development strategy of the Republic of Croatia (2017 - 2030)
In Croatia the project directly contributes at the achievement of the “Transport Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia 2017-2030” which specifically aims to improve the interoperability of the Croatian transport system (public transport, rail, road, maritime, inland water and air)and to enhance the transport system (operation, organization and infrastructure development and maintenance) according to the principle of economic sustainability.
Other The National Strategic Plan for Ports and Logistics (PSNPL) - Italy
In Italy, at national level, the project boasts a high coherence with the National Ports and Logistic Strategic Plan released by the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport, which identifies a set of goals to be reached by Italian ports on midterm, one for all, to increase the planning capacity of ports in the field of integrated passenger transport system. CROSSCONNECT project will be implemented by focusing on one of the three central action lines of the plan, that concerns the improvement of transport facilities in terms of:
-environmental, economic and social sustainability;
-intermodal transport enhancement, by connecting the road, air and water infrastructures.
Other Croatian Sustainable Tourism Strategy
CROSSCONNECT project will make an important contribution to the sustainable tourism development in the region, acting mainly on the integration of, ports, airports and urban transport systems by adopting sustainable solutions with the aim of support a more resilient, balanced and innovative tourism offer. The joint testing phase that will be carried out by project partners will lead to the implementation of a set of sustainable and tested solutions that will benefit directly the touristic flows, in terms of a general improvement of connections of ports with airports and hinterland services.

Deliverable (other than infrastructural investment) areas:

Hrvatska (HR), Cilipi (1-2) Dubrovnik (3), Dobrota (1-2) Obala pape Ivana Pavla II (2), 14 (1-2) 1 (3), 20213(1-2) 20000 (3)
Italia (IT), Chioggia (1) (2) Venice (2), Isola Saloni Terminal(1)(2) Stazione Marittima(3), 30015(1)(2) 30135(2)
Hrvatska (HR), Pula, Riva (1,2,4) Starih Statuta (1,2,3), 52100
Italia (IT), Brindisi, Contrada Piccoli Z.I.(1) V.le Regina Margherita(2), 72100

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 054 - New or modernised intermodal connections, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 1.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Italy-Croatia

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2026-01-21

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

82 / 82 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

556 / 556 (100%)

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Cross-border coordinated sea-land approach interconnecting ports of the Adriatic Sea with airports and urban areas

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Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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