Speech by Minister Antonio Tajani at the opening of the 18th Conference of Ambassadors

Mr. President of the Republic, I wish to thank you for your presence, which we greatly appreciate and which confirms your keen interest in foreign policy at this complex and sensitive juncture in international affairs.

I wish to welcome the representatives of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and my colleagues of the Government.

Civil and military authorities, and dear Ambassadors, I welcome you all to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Conference of Italian Ambassadors in the world.

The international situation in which we live has brought foreign policy back to the centre of our public debate.

Faced with so many uncertainties, one thing is certain: Italy and the government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are increasingly prominent players on the global stage.

Peace, development, and growth are the cornerstones of our action, always putting people at the centre.

Last Saturday's audience with Pope Leo, for the Jubilee of Diplomacy, reminded us of our duty to be builders of peace, reconciliation, and future every day.

The Holy Father's words touched me deeply, as they touched all the staff of the Ministry -5,000 people -who were present.

We carry with us the drive to draw inspiration from our Christian humanism, the roots of our society and of Europe.

Yesterday's terrible terrorist attack on the Jewish community in Sydney reminds us how urgent and necessary this commitment to peace and dialogue is.

Our vigilance and mobilization against anti-Semitism and racial hatred must continue to be at their highest.

My thoughts are with all the victims, their loved ones, and the Jewish communities.

Mister President,

The Ministry that stands before you today is undergoing profound change, starting with this room, which reopens today for the first time after months of careful restoration.

On January 1, the reform of the Ministry that I strongly advocated will come into force, enabling us to be better equipped to face new challenges.

The key words are the following: growth and exports; simplification; services to citizens and companies; cybersecurity.

The Ministry will be a two-headed organisation. There will be a political head to ensure greater effectiveness in the implementation of policy guidelines on all the most complex issues.

There will also be an economic head, to support the internationalization of companies in an increasingly coordinated manner.

We have created a new Directorate-General for Cyber Issues, Information Technology, and Technological Innovation.

We want to keep pace with the demands of the digital era, make our work safer, and bring our ethical vision to new technologies, primarily artificial intelligence.

It will be a Ministry that is increasingly close to citizens. We want to break down barriers.

Next year, we will organize a Conference of Consuls General to further strengthen our commitment to fast, efficient, and timely services for citizens and companies.

Faced with a complex international scenario, the Government has firmly established the two cornerstones of its foreign policy, namely transatlantic relations and Europe.

The government has immediately established excellent relations with the new US Administration.

Our position is clear: the United States cannot do without Europe, and Europe cannot do without the United States.

Bearing this in mind, Italy is at the forefront of fostering relations between the two sides of the Atlantic.

The challenges facing the global economic and trade system are becoming increasingly complex. We discussed this yesterday evening with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Georgieva.

A year has elapsed since the start of the new institutional cycle of the European Union, which now faces difficult and decisive choices for its future.

Europe is at a turning point. Conflicts are no longer far away.

They affect our security and our economies.

In recent days, I have used the word "electroshock" to describe the scale of the change we need to make.

It is time to defend the benefits of almost 70 years of European integration and 80 years of UN multilateralism.

We need to rediscover the political soul of Europe, our Christian roots, the Enlightenment principles, and respect for the individual.

We need to create the conditions for a Europe that can take effective and swift decisions.

We need a leap forward, ranging from defence to the single market, as well as in competition and energy. We need a strong industrial policy.

The issue of enlargement is fundamental, and Italy is increasingly at the forefront in this regard. I am thinking primarily of the Balkans, but also of other candidate countries, starting with Ukraine.

This is a key strategic investment. We cannot leave these countries in the hands of our adversaries.

I am delighted that German Foreign Minister Wadephul has agreed to be with us tonight.

With the German Government we share the same principles and vision for the future of Europe and relations with partner countries. Together, we can be a driving force for change.

Defining Europe's role and contribution to managing the crisis in Ukraine is a crucial test.

The coming weeks could be decisive and, once again, it will be essential to remain united.

The US peace initiative is an opportunity that we must not miss. We need to bring peace back to Europe!

We must do so, of course , under certain conditions.

Ukraine deserves a just and lasting peace. Europe's security needs to emerge stronger from this process.

Security guarantees are essential, and we are proud that work is being carried out on an idea launched by Italy itself.

Italy remains firmly at Ukraine's side and committed to Europe in maintaining pressure on Russia.

There are many sensitive issues to be resolved, including for Europe. I am thinking, in particular, of the management of frozen Russian assets.

The project we have launched to support the energy sector with over 100 million euros is a concrete sign of our solidarity with the Ukrainian people in the face of continued Russian bombing.

This reflects our commitment, which is already looking ahead to recovery and reconstruction, as confirmed by the success of the International Conference held here in Rome in July.

We are bringing this same commitment to the Middle East, a region that is witnessing momentous developments.

The situation in Gaza is a case in point. On the one hand, we have witnessed a profound tragedy that has left its mark on us. On the other, we are now facing a historic prospect for peace.

We have supported the US peace initiative from the outset, maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with Israel and the Palestinians, and with all regional partners.

Our goal remains that of two States able to coexist in peace and security.

We are working tirelessly to strengthen the ceasefire and achieve genuine peace.

We have confirmed to the White House our intention to play a leading role in recovery and reconstruction.

We are ready to do our part on security as well, and we are at the forefront of humanitarian assistance.

Through the "Food for Gaza" initiative, we have brought over 2,400 tons of aid to the Gaza Strip. The last plane left Brindisi just a few days ago.

In recent months, we have brought 232 sick children from Gaza to Italy for treatment in our hospitals and 149 Palestinian students to study here.

In total, we have brought over 1,400 people to Italy. We are the Western country that has done the most.

President Abbas, who was back in Italy a few days ago, thanked us wholeheartedly for our support.

This is a commitment that unites the entire country: not only the staff of the Ministry, to whom I extend my deep gratitude, but also the many private individuals, companies, universities, hospitals, and non-profit organizations that have come together in an extraordinary show of solidarity.

The Israeli-Palestinian issue is central to the entire region.

I am thinking not only of the Iranian issue, in a year that has seen the first open discussion between Israel and Iran, but also of the fragile path of institutional strengthening in Syria, as well as in Lebanon, where we are present with UNIFIL, and the Red Sea, a crucial area for our strategic interests where we have our soldiers in the European naval mission ASPIDES.

I will be in Djibouti for a Christmas greeting to the Italian contingent at the military base and the frigate Antonio Marceglia.

Over the last year, we have strengthened our action and presence in Africa, which is one of our absolute strategic priorities.

Humanitarian and peace efforts, even for often forgotten conflicts, such as in Sudan, remain a priority. With the new "Italy for Sudan" initiative, we will provide tangible support.

During my mission to the Sahel with Minister Piantedosi, in Mauritania, Senegal, and Niger, I had confirmation that we are working in the right direction.

We have established a strategy focused on dialogue between equals and concrete partnerships, including through the Mattei Plan.

There are many priority issues in this major effort: managing irregular immigration; combating human trafficking; fighting terrorism; achieving energy and food security, but above all growth and new economic opportunities.

We have opened Embassies, Cultural Institutes, and internationalization agency offices. Because Africa's growth is our growth.

Mister President,

Once again this year, to reflect the increasingly central role of growth diplomacy, I have wanted to confirm a stop in Milan for our Ambassadors' Conference.

We have convened the Second National Conference on Exports and Business Internationalization.

Our Ambassadors and representatives of the internationalization team - ITA, SACE, Simest, and CDP - will be available to meet with companies and support them.

The latest data confirms that exports remain an essential component of Italy's economic growth.

Italy has also overtaken Japan in the ranking of exporting countries and is now in fourth place worldwide.

After 23 years, we have had an upgrade from Moody's on Italy.

Despite protectionist trends and challenges to supply chains, Italian exports continue to grow.

I have wanted to set an ambitious goal, e.g. reaching 700 billion per year by the end of the legislature.

To this end, I have launched the Export Plan for markets with the highest potential this year.

We have promoted it with missions to all continents.

Last week, I was in India to refine our strategic partnership with the world's most populous and fastest-growing market and to give momentum to the strategically important IMEC logistics corridor project.

India's Minister of Industry Goyal will deliver a video message at our Conference in Milan.

I had previously been on a mission to Saudi Arabia, a strategic partner with whom trade is growing at double-digit rates.

We left our country's unique mark in the Italian Pavilion at EXPO Osaka.

A great showcase of all the best that Italy has to offer, which was awarded first prize.

I would also like to mention the great effort made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our entire network in achieving the great success of Italian cuisine's recognition by UNESCO. My sincere thanks to everyone!

We are at the forefront in Europe in promoting a policy of openness to international trade and in improving the agreement reached with the United States through a constructive approach.

Cultural promotion will be central to this commitment to growth.

The first Italophony Conference was a great success.

We have created a large political space to bring together all the countries and individuals who love Italy, our language, and our culture, to make it a tool for shared growth.

In our all-out commitment to growth, we have also given sport a key role.

We are now at the starting blocks for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.

I am proud of the result reached in New York with the UN Resolution on the Olympic Truce.

This was not a foregone conclusion, but the promise of a concrete commitment and recognition of Italian diplomacy, which always builds bridges and never walls.

Faced with these momentous challenges, it is crucial to encourage young people to take an interest in and engage with foreign policy. We need their ideas and their positive energy.

This is a priority for me. Over the last year alone, more than 1,200 new staff members have joined the Ministry.

We have also reformed the competitive examination to enter the diplomatic career in view of attracting diverse professionals with specialist skills.

Mister President,

Today's international reality requires constant presence, listening skills, and dialogue.

This is the DNA of our diplomacy, which is increasingly at the service of the country, its citizens, and companies in a concrete and operational manner to promote peace, dialogue, well-being, and growth. Thank you for your kind attention.