Undersecretary Tripodi attends the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) in Brussels

The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Maria Tripodi, participated today in the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade configuration) held in Brussels, representing Foreign Minister Tajani. The session focused on the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on international trade and on the progress of trade negotiations between the EU and third countries.

"The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has led to a further deterioration of the European Union's geoeconomic environment, exacerbating already existing structural vulnerabilities against a backdrop of growing instability in global trade," the Undersecretary stated in her intervention. "The current situation," she continued, "confirms the importance for the EU of strategic infrastructure projects such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)".

Turning to the ongoing trade negotiations between the EU and third countries - namely the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia - Tripodi reiterated the need for the Union to pursue an ambitious trade policy by diversifying economic partnerships and supply chains in order to address the current economic uncertainty.