Editorial by Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis, President of the Assembly of Corsica, member of the European Committee of the Regions, Vice-President of the MOT

Maritime borders and the Quirinal Treaty: a strategic challenge for Corsica

“Borders are not just lines on a map, simple territorial delimitations or points of passage. They embody a history, an identity, and a common future to be built. They not only separate, they also connect. The Mediterranean shapes our island destiny and is at the heart of this reality. It is an area of flows, exchanges and cooperation, where strategic, cultural and economic issues intersect. Yet the Franco-Italian maritime border, and more broadly the North Tyrrhenian arc, still suffers from a lack of institutional recognition. The Quirinal Treaty enshrined the concept of ‘cross-border living area’, but by applying it only to the land border, it left the maritime dimension in the dark.

‘The Quirinal Treaty and the maritime border, Corsica and the maritime living area: a relevant concept for close cross-border cooperation’ Seminar, held in Bastia on the 6th and 7th of March, was a strong reminder that Corsica and its border neighbours must be fully involved in the discussions that are redefining our strategic environment. Territorial continuity cannot be thought of solely in administrative or land-based terms; it must also reflect the reality of the human, economic and political exchanges that shape the maritime space.

The Quirinal Treaty, which strengthens cooperation between France and Italy, can therefore not ignore the geographical and strategic position of its islands. Between Rome and Paris, Corsica is not a periphery, but a bridge, a space for dialogue and convergence.

It is up to us, the islanders, to make our voice heard, with determination and ambition, so that maritime areas are recognised and heard today and in the policies being defined at national and European levels.”

Read the article: “Maritime cooperation: A look back on the Bastia seminar”