Italy and the EU, greater focus on the Mediterranean – Terzi at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brussels

To increase the focus on the Mediterranean, and European policies regarding its southern shores, is one of Italy’s goals at the meeting in Brussels of the European foreign ministers, with an agenda that also includes the possible adoption of new European sanctions against Iran and analysis of the difficult situation in Syria. Minister Giulio Terzi confirms and strengthens Italy’s traditional regard for the Mediterranean region. The minister has already made trips to Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, countries where the Arab spring has led to the collapse of old regimes. But he has also been in Turkey and in the Gulf, and Italy is preparing for the 20 February meeting in Naples of the 5+5 foreign ministers, a traditional dialogue forum uniting representatives of the two shores of the Mediterranean (Italy, France, Malta, Portugal and Spain for Europe; Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia for the southern shores; at the Naples meeting the format will be expanded to include Egypt, Greece and Turkey), precisely for the purpose of boosting cooperative relations in the Mediterranean region at a moment of decisive and rapid change. According to Italy it is important to discuss political cooperation, the foundation for every type of relationship, but it is also necessary – as our southern neighbours are urging – to discuss the issues of employment, immigration and regional integration, in a global approach to regional relations. Another topic on the Brussels agenda will be the situation in Burma, following the regime’s recent positive signals and the possibility of loosening Western sanctions. This is a topic that is of particular interest to Italy, ahead of a possible visit by Terzi in the near future.