ITALIAN MARITIME ECONOMY AND THE EU GREEN DEAL
The article examines the problem of transformation of the Italian maritime economy (in terms of transport and logistics infrastructure) in the context of the European Green Deal. The increased role of the Mediterranean in international maritime trade makes Italy explore ways of improving the competitiveness of its ports infrastructure and logistics to avoid lagging behind rapidly developing competitors in Greece, Spain, Turkey and the countries of North Africa. At the same time, Italy continues to position itself as a middle power, whose dominance in the Mediterranean is a natural result of its geographic position and national priorities. Currently traditional competition is aggravated by the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the world maritime economy. Rome expects that the EU's Green Deal and the EU Next Generation Plan will help Italy solve three problems: 1) to increase its own competitiveness in the transport and logistics system of the Mediterranean; 2) to stimulate the development of the South of the country; 3) to become a protagonist of the new EU normative power and leadership in the green transformation in the Mediterranean. The author concludes that the main goal of Italy is to restore its role as a middle power and the leader of the Mediterranean, and to increase its own status within the EU.