The project objectives are summarized as follows:

1) to enable joint approaches to common issues and challenges the ports need to tackle;
2) to facilitate the adoption of common environmental practices through developing, implementing and financing joint environmental actions;
3) to strengthen and promote cross-border collaboration, transfer of knowledge and exchange of experience not only among the consortium members (via the development and implementation of joint environmental actions aimed at the sustainable development of the area), but also among citizens of the area and beyond, stakeholders and tourists.

The strategies to be developed aim at ensuring the protection and restoration of European marine ecosystems in border areas of Greece and Albania, by reaching a consensus with respect to an environmental perception, and by establishing and implementing joint procedures, practices, policies and actions in compliance with National, European and International Laws (MARPOL 73/78 etc). These strategies will ultimately ensure the ecological sustainability of activities associated with the marine environment. The specific aims of the project partners are to:

§ set common environmental objectives and targets;
§ define  activities, systems and procedures for efficient and sustainable environmental management;
§ inform the public and other stakeholders about the environmental performance of both ports and the region of interest.
§ raise public awareness of locals and visitors, contributing to the sustainable development of the border area

It is evident that each port needs to tackle different problems, issues and challenges or opportunities for development due to differences in size, location in the border region of Greece and Albania. Environmental impacts from port activities are also in strict relation with location, size, infrastructure needs and management loads. During the project preparation phase, extensive discussions among the partners, revealed the variety of environmental issues and problems, and also the significant impact each port has on the local community and the wider region.

More specifically, the environmental problems/threats that very often arise as a result of maritime activities at the ports of Corfu, Igoumenitsa & Saranda are: noise generated by the operation of machinery and vehicles; dust produced primarily in the areas of handling bulk; gaseous pollutants (from vehicles, machinery, ships);degradation of water quality and marine ecosystems around the port due to reduced renewal of water between the piers; pollution from loading and unloading of bulk cargo; leaching of the platforms with the rain;leakages of oil spills from ships; pollution of soil and underlying groundwater caused by the infiltration of hazardous substances; management of hazardous cargos; hygiene and safety of staff and visitors; overconsumption of energy and natural resources (eg water, oil and others), etc. On the other hand, the increase in tourism and commercial or maritime activity in all ports of the area presents new opportunities and challenges as regards economic development, promotion of local communities and populations. One such example is the rapid increase in cruises planned to double the number of ships and passenger arrivals in the related ports in the next few years. However, the increase in tourism  as well as maritime and commercial activity in each port creates not onlyopportunities but also obligations for the ports. It’s worth mentioning that cruise passengers arriving at Corfu amount to 600.000 per year,visitors from/to Corfu arriving at/from Igoumenitsa amount to 800.000 per year, and visitors to/from Corfu arriving at/from Sarande amount to 50.000 per year.

The number of passengers departing from or arriving at any of the three ports (Corfu,Igoumenitsa,Saranda) to/from other destinations is equally large.This growth, has led to the design and implementation of large-scale projects (completed or still in progress) aimed to improve the infrastructure:extension of the wharf and dredging the bottom at the port of Saranda,and of the renovation of infrastructure facilities and construction of a new port at Igoumenitsa,etc.The cooperation of the three ports highlights the important and unique opportunity to transfer knowledge, experiences and practices in environmental management and thereby improve the living quality in the cross-border area.

The project idea originates from the fact that the 3 partners (Corfu Port,Igoumenitsa Port,Port of Saranda) are located within a virtual triangle that renders the whole area an international cruise center and a commercial hub in the Mediterranean. The role,therefore, the 3 ports are called to play to leverage the development of international trade, and the sustainability of the local and national economies in Greece and Albania, is a prominent one.However, this region now faces serious environmental risks arising, mainly, from port activities. Air and water pollution caused by ships seem to be a constantly increasing threat to the area’s waterways, air and coasts. That is been accelerating as trade and tourism have become increasingly globalized. Port activities pollute the above mentioned natural resources in many ways.

The primary objective of the project is 1) to enable joint approaches to common problems that the ports deal with, 2)the adoption of common environmental practices among the 3 ports through developing, implementing and financing joint environmental actions.Moreover, the project aims at 3) strengthening and promoting cross border collaboration, transfer of knowledge and exchange of experience firstly among the partners through the development and implementation of joint environmental actions resulting to sustainable development of the area and lastly among people of the area and beyond, stakeholders and tourists.

The project aims at ensuring the protection and restoration of European marine ecosystems in border areas of Greece and Albania, preparing common sense of environmental perception by establishing and implementing joint procedures, practices, policies and actions with respect to National, European and International Laws and ensuring ecological sustainability of economic activities associated with the marine environment.

The main project's geographical scope is to make the above mentioned triangle area,the cities of Corfu,Igoumenitsa and Saranda having joint environmental practices to prevent from the occurence of unwilling situations,pollutions,irrational natural resources wastes etc.In parallel,the ports to adopt environmental policies will help stakeholders, young people from the area and locals firstly to be informed and consequently sensitized, looking after the sea,ports,marines and coasts and beyond.