European Prospects for South-Eastern Europe – The Role of Italy

18/01/2007 - The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Massimo D’Alema, gave the concluding address at this conference which was held on January 19th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Programme of Support to Regional Cooperation, promoted and activated by the ministry in collaboration with Formez. The initiative aims to create inter-regional partnerships of a stable and lengthy nature with South-Eastern Europe and South Mediterranean countries. The integrated projects have been jointly agreed on with partner countries and are waiting for final approval for commencement. Partners from third countries will meet with the Italian regions to define the drafted projects in more detail. Undersecretary Mr Famiano Crucianelli opened the conference with a report “Italy and the Balkans” while important dignitaries from third countries commented on “European Prospects seen from the Balkans”. Hon. Patrizia Sentinelli, Undersecretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Mr Nicola Vendola and Ms Mercedes Bresso, respectively Presidents of the Regions of Puglia and Piemonte together with other representatives from local territories and NGO’s discussed “Cooperation and Local Entities”. Finally, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Giuliano Amato, together with the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Carl Bildt, and important European speakers presented arguments on the theme “European Prospects seen from Brussels”.
Many participants attended from research institutes, the armed forces, Italian embassies in the Balkans and other countries, as well as from companies such as Telecom, ENEL, ENI and ANAS. At the end of February 2007, a second conference is planned regarding the South Mediterranean where further integrated projects will be presented to Balkan partners.