Minister Giulio Terzi’s mission to the Mediterranean – an Italian foreign policy priority often stressed by the minister himself where Italy intends to play a frontline role – includes visits to Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, key Arab spring countries, as well as to Paris to meet with his colleague Alain Juppé and Secretary of State for European Affairs Jean Antoine Leonetti to review the countries of the Mediterranean and discuss European economic governance, beginning with the anti-crisis treaty. Meeting in Tunis on 6 January with newly-installed Prime Minister Jebali, President of the Republic Marzouki and Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdessalem, Terzi reasserted Italy’s support for the country’s democratization and economic revival, especially on the employment front.
“Tunisia’s success could contribute to the stability of the entire region and is a model for others of the Arab spring countries”, Terzi explained. The minister assured that, as Tunisia’s second commercial partner after France, Italy was “ready to collaborate in all strategic sectors such as energy, transport, tourism and the development of small and midsize enterprises”, for which the Cooperation has already allotted €90 million (€17.5 of which in donations) in funding through 2011 programmes. Tunisian foreign minister Rafik Abdessalem sought to reassure Italian investors by guaranteeing that “thanks to its political stability Tunisia is becoming more attractive” to foreign businesses. Terzi and Abdelassem are set to co-chair a meeting in Naples on 20 February of the 5+5 group for the Mediterranean, which, according to Terzi, “could make a major contribution to bringing peace to the region”.
In their meeting in Paris today, Terzi and Juppé will be reviewing the situation in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, and discussing how to support the transition in those countries in the wake of the revolts. Rome and Paris agree, in particular, on the need to strengthen the financial resources of Mediterranean countries within the framework of the Neighbourhood Policy. “In addition to being strategic partners, Italy and France are the principal supporters of bringing the southern shores of the Mediterranean closer to the European Union”, and of a more incisive European policy in the region, as ministry spokesperson Maurizio Massari explained. Discussions will also include the Syrian crisis, in the light of the Arab League observers’ mission, and the Iranian nuclear dossier and new sanctions package.
Minister Terzi will also be in Egypt this month, a strategic North African partner where Italy has established deep political, economic and cultural ties. During his Cairo visit, Minister Terzi will have an opportunity to strengthen relations with the Egyptian government and the new political forces and, in addition to bilateral concerns, to analyse dossiers regarding the Mediterranean and Middle East, in whose stabilisation Egypt continues to play a key role. The minister will make two other visits to the region with other members of the government, and on 21 January will accompany Prime Minister Mario Monti on a visit to Libya.
Minister Terzi personally monitors the situation in Libya on a daily basis. Efforts continue, in association with the Italian embassy in Tripoli, the other ministries concerned and the Office of the Prime Minister, toward putting bilateral relations with our Libyan partners back on track in a variety of sectors, ranging from the economy to security to the coordinated prevention of illegal immigration.
