The challenge of Euro-Mediterranean integration for Campania agribusiness sustainability

Abstract

This work aims to investigate whether and for which products the Campania region, as compared to other Italian regions, has managed to exploit the opportunities resulting from the gradual opening of MTC (Mediterranean third countries) markets which took place following the 1995 Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Barcelona. The results obtained through the use of a relative specialisation index show that Campania, compared to other Italian regions, enjoys a competitive advantage resulting from relative specialisation in the sale of processed and preserved fruit and vegetables and of bakery and flour products on MTC markets. Of great interest is the result, that the performance recorded by Campania with reference to the MTCs regarding the production of processed and preserved fruit and vegetables did not entail the repositioning of the same region on other European markets. Ultimately, the results highlight a strong specialisation and competitiveness of Campania in the production of processed and preserved fruit and vegetables and how the region has managed to fully exploit the gradual opening of MTC markets positioning itself on the markets and without being affected by the other main markets of MTC competition.