Online
Meeting 16 October | Online plenary
Online
16 Oct 2026
18:00
From 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm
16
OCT
Public consultation
Public consultation
Following the designation of AI-Link as a PMI - Project of Mutual Interest, namely a strategic cross-border infrastructure project between EU and non-EU countries, the Public Consultation will be carried out in accordance with EU Regulation 869/2022.
What is the Public Consultation?
The Public Consultation is a participatory process where citizens can provide input, feedback and suggestions to improve and refine the project design.
Although the final decision on the project lies with the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), the competent authority responsible for the overall permitting procedure, the Public Consultation represents a key element in developing a project that is environmentally and territorially sound. It is based on an open and constructive dialogue between citizens, public authorities, stakeholders, and Zhero.
How does the Public Consultation work?
The Public Consultation will include a series of public meetings starting on 16 October 2026 in the municipalities affected by the proposed project siting options. During these meetings, technical experts from Zhero will present project details, answer questions, and collect feedback
From 16 October to 16 December 2026, a dedicated period for written submissions will be open, during which stakeholders will be able to send additional comments and receive detailed responses. On 18 December 2026, an online final meeting will be held to present all contributions received and the related technical considerations, including any potential alternative design options that may emerge.
The outcomes of the consultation will be consolidated into a final report to be submitted by Zhero to MASE to support the initiation of the formal permitting phase. Further details on the consultation process are provided in the Information Leaflet and Consultation Plan.
When does the Public Consultation start?
The Public Consultation will officially begin on 16 October 2026 with an online launch event presenting the project, followed by in-person meetings in the municipalities affected by AI-Link’s proposed location options, in accordance with the consultation calendar approved by MASE.
In September, a series of pre-consultation meetings was held as part of the Participatory Planning process with the municipal authorities. The meetings were organised to provide information ahead of the formal launch of the Public Consultation, giving stakeholders and other interested parties the opportunity to learn more about the project, explore its key aspects and engage directly with Zhero’s technical team.
What can stakeholders comment on?
The Public Consultation focuses on the Italian section of the project, from the 12-nautical-mile offshore limit to the Terna connection node in La Spezia. Stakeholders are therefore invited to provide feedback on:
- submarine and onshore cable routing
- cable and electrode landfall locations
- converter station siting options
In addition, stakeholders may submit questions, comments, or requests for clarification on any aspect of the project, including design, construction, and commissioning phases, as well as general observations. All contributions will be carefully reviewed and will receive a formal response from Zhero.
How to participate in the Public Consultation meetings?
In agreement with the municipalities of Ameglia, Arcola, La Spezia, Santo Stefano di Magra, Sarzana and Vezzano Ligure the following schedule of Public Consultation meetings has been defined and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE).
Schedule of public consultation meetings (completed)
Meeting 19 October | Santo Stefano di Magra
Sala Consiliare, Piazza Matteotti, Santo Stefano di Magra
19 Oct 2026
09:00
Open day: from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Project presentation and Q&A: from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm
19
OCT
Meeting 20 October | Arcola
Sala Polivalente, Piazza 2 Giugno, Arcola
20 Oct 2026
09:00
Open day: from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Project presentation and Q&A: from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm
20
OCT
Meeting 21 October | La Spezia
Sala conferenze, Palazzo della Provincia, Via Vittorio Veneto 2
21 Oct 2026
09:00
Open day: from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Project presentation and Q&A: from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm
21
OCT
Meeting 22 October | Ameglia
Sala Consiliare, Via Cafaggio 15, Ameglia
22 Oct 2026
09:00
Open day: from 9.00 am to 11.00 am
Project presentation and Q&A: from 11.00 am to 13.00 pm
22
OCT
Meeting 22 October | Vezzano Ligure
Sala Consiliare, Via Goito 2, Vezzano Ligure
22 Oct 2026
15:00
Open day: from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Project presentation and Q&A: from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm
22
OCT
Meeting 23 October | Sarzana
Centro Sociale Anelito Barontini, Via Ronzano 1
23 Oct 2026
09:00
Open day: from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Project presentation and Q&A: from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm
23
OCT
New public consultation meetings
Meeting 09 November | Marinella di Sarzana
Hotel Rondine, Viale Litoraneo 58, Marinella di Sarzana
09 Nov 2026
15:00
Open day: from 3.00 pm to 8.00 pm
09
NOV
Meeting 10 November | Arcola
Sala Polivalente, Piazza 2 Giugno, Arcola
10 Nov 2026
17:00
Project presentation and Q&A: from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm
10
NOV
How to submit comments on the project
To submit comments or observations on the project, stakeholders may send an email to:
Alternatively, comments may be submitted through the form below.
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Participatory Design Process
The Public Consultation builds on the outcomes of the so-called “Participatory Design Process”, a working methodology adopted by Zhero from the earliest stages of project development. This approach is based on early engagement with competent national, regional, and local authorities and institutions. The objective is to share the main project options that will be subject to Public Consultation and to define, in a coordinated manner, the tools and timeline of the participatory process.
Stakeholders involved in the process include the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), ISPRA, the National Superintendency for Underwater Cultural Heritage, Terna, Legambiente, WWF, Italia Nostra, the Liguria Region, through its Environment and Energy Department and General Directorate for Environment; the Superintendency for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of La Spezia, ARPAL, the Montemarcello Magra Vara Regional Park, the Northern Apennines District Basin Authority, Concessioni del Tirreno, the Eastern Ligurian Sea Port Authority, the La Spezia Harbour Master's Office, and the municipal authorities of Ameglia, Arcola, La Spezia, Santo Stefano di Magra, Sarzana and Vezzano Ligure.
Through dedicated technical working groups and stakeholder meetings, Zhero incorporated the contributions received into the preparation of the Non-Technical Summary and the Information Leaflet, which were subsequently submitted to MASE for approval and the formal launch of the Public Consultation process.