At the ESPO (European Sea Ports Organization) 2025 Awards ceremony held today in Brussels, the Italian Port Association (Assoporti) received a special mention from the international panel for the project ‘Advancing Gender Equality and Inclusive Employment in Italian Port Authorities’, presented on behalf of the 16 Italian Port Network Authorities.
The President of the panel, Eamonn O’Reilly, pointed out that Assoporti’s project demonstrated a universal approach to promoting and safeguarding women in the port workforce, creating opportunities and ensuring their participation in Italian port activities. He said that the systemic nature of the initiative, which involves 65 ports and 16 port authorities, was truly commendable.
The project, which originated from the Gender Equality Pact signed by all the Port Network Authorities in 2021 and developed through the 2023 Declaration of Intent, the guidelines on inclusive communication and the recent National Protocol on Gender Equality, aims to structurally integrate the principles of equality, inclusion and equal opportunities in port work, including national collective bargaining.
“This European recognition confirms the validity of the joint process Italian ports have undertaken towards a sustainable, inclusive and socially responsible development model. We have decided to strengthen our commitment to ESPO to further enhance the role of the Mediterranean, with a decisive contribution from Italian ports at a time when major transformations are defining new market balances,” said Assoporti President Rodolfo Giampieri on the sidelines of the event.
“Participating in the ESPO Assembly, representing Assoporti, was a moment of great institutional and personal significance for me,’ said Annalisa Tardino, special commissioner of the Western Sicilian Port Network Authority, who added: “I would like to thank President Rodolfo Giampieri for the trust he has placed in me by appointing me to represent Italy at the ESPO General Assembly in Brussels.”
Translation by Giles Foster
