On 13 September 2016, the European Parliament approved the strategy for the Alpine Macro-region (EUSALP). With 521 votes in favour, 78 against and 107 abstentions, the Strasbourg plenary session approved the report drafted by MEP Mercedes Bresso regarding the region, which in Italy includes Liguria, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piedmont, Aosta Valley, Lombardy, Veneto, and the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano. The approval of the strategy by the European Parliament marks a new phase for EUSALP, in which regions, local authorities and stakeholders must be fully involved in the management of the strategy, in order to transform it into a lever for economic development, growth and employment in these areas, not only in traditional sectors such as tourism and food and wine, but also and above all in more innovative sectors.

In this regard, the Strasbourg chamber has proposed the creation of an investment platform to mobilise public and private funding in the macro-region, modelled on the Juncker Plan. This proposal has already received the support of the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Crețu. Another watchword of the strategy is "connectivity", as it is impossible to "think about the development of these territories until we are able to connect them to the rest of the world." Connectivity refers not only to online access, but also to infrastructure and transport.

Read the Manifesto for integrated and sustainable mobility in the Alpine Macro-region