ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, visited the Monfalcone yard, one of the main production sites of Fincantieri and strategic pole for European shipbuilding. The visit represented an opportunity to illustrate the Group’s industrial capacities, the distinctive skills in the construction of high technological complexity ships and the commitment to a sustainable and digital transition of the maritime sector. The Commissioner was able to deepen the excellence of the site, an international reference point for quality, innovation and productive efficiency. The meeting was attended by the CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, Pierroberto Folgiero, the Director General of the Navi Mercantili Division, Luigi Matarazzo, and Davide Cucino, SVP EU & NATO Affairs. The agenda of the visit included a comparison with Marine Interiors and Fincantieri Ingenium, followed by a focus on the yard presented by Christian Director Bazzara. The delegation then visited the productive areas and a ship under construction, also focusing on the workers, confirming the central role of people in the competitiveness of the sector. During the meeting, the need to further strengthen the competitiveness of European shipbuilding has emerged, consolidating its leadership in high-value ships and recovering strategic segments in response to Asian competition.
The dual dimension of industry, which is fundamental to European defence and security, has also been reiterated, with particular attention to the underwater domain and the protection of critical infrastructure. The role of innovation in sustainable and digital transition, with focus on decarbonization technologies – including long-term solutions such as hydrogen and nuclear – and digital initiatives. All these themes are pillars of the future EU Maritime Industrial Strategy expected for 2026.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, said: “To welcome Commissioner Tzitzikostas in our Monfalcone yard is a recognition of the role Fincantieri plays for the entire European shipbuilding industry and for the relaunch of the marine economy in our continent. The visit allowed us to share our priorities: strengthen Europe’s industrial competitiveness, invest in innovation, digitization and decarbonisation – also through long-term technologies – and recover strategic market segments. They are key themes of the future EU Maritime Industrial Strategy, to which we are ready to contribute with the strength of our industry and our expertise.”.
The European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said: “It was really exciting to visit the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone. It is impressive what our maritime industry is capable of in Europe, despite the challenges it is facing. In the next EU Maritime Industrial Strategy, which I will present at the beginning of 2026, the European Commission will define actions to strengthen competitiveness, resilience, innovation and technological leadership of the sector.”.
The shipyard of Monfalcone, founded in 1908 by the Cosulich brothers, is the productive heart of Fincantieri for the ships from new generation cruise and the largest of the Group, with a chain that involves 600 companies of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, over 23.000 workers and more than 40 units delivered since 1990. In recent years the site has benefited from significant investments for infrastructure, safety and well-being of people, and is at the center of an innovation path that introduces robotics, digital twin, real-time tracking, physical AI, augmented reality and additive manufacturing, confirming it as an international reference for quality, efficiency and sustainability.
– Fincantieri press office photos –
(ITALPRESS).
