The EU's  will back with almost EUR 3 million studies on a better connection between the northern Adriatic ports and the main rail and inland waterways networks in the region. The project's ambition is to contribute to the development of these ports as interconnection points between maritime and other modes of transport.

The studies will focus on improving the hinterland access of the sea ports of Trieste, Venice (Italy), Koper (Slovenia) and Rijeka (Croatia) and the inland ports of Chioggia, Porto Levante and Mantova (Italy) to the core European transport networks by rail and inland waterway connections.

In specific, the project will:

• Prepare an advanced analysis for future investments in these ports
• Promote cooperation and agreements between ports, freight operators and inland terminals to improve services
• Promote efficient sea-rail freight intermodal solutions to integrate the ports into the core transport corridors crossing the northern Adriatic
• Foster sea-river co-modal services and integration of the sea ports of Venice and Chioggia into the Po river system
• Promote investments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to improve the efficiency of the short sea shipping and its interconnection with other transport modes

The project was selected for EU funding with the assistance of external experts under the , 'Motorways of the Sea'. Its implementation will be monitored by , the European Commission's Innovation and Networks Executive Agency.

 The project is to be completed by December 2015.