Massimo Ferrarese launches Taranto 2036 civic project

Massimo Ferrarese, commissioner of the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, has launched an independent civic project titled ‘Embrace the Future – Taranto 2036’. The initiative aims to foster dialogue regarding the city's development over the next decade.

Ferrarese clarified that he does not intend to found a political party or run for office. Instead, the project seeks to bring together diverse stakeholders—including businesses, institutions, universities, trade unions, environmental associations, and young people—to create concrete proposals for economic growth, employment, health, environmental protection, tourism, and culture.

The announcement comes amid local tensions regarding the former Ilva plant, where concerns over labor stability intersect with demands for better health and environmental safeguards. Ferrarese stated that the city should not be forced to choose between work and health, or between development and the environment, citing the collaborative success of the Mediterranean Games as a model for future collective action.