On Monday 31 March, the Farnesina will host the 30th Annual EUFASA Conference, which brings together the national associations of spouses, partners and families of foreign ministry staff across the Old Continent, which will be attended by 24 European delegations. Minister for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini will give the welcome address, to be followed by President of the ACDMAE Francesca Vattani. The sessions will centre on a series of sensitive themes for those who live an itinerant lifestyle, with discussions also on how to facilitate the professional career of a partner or spouse as well as some new profiles of those sharing the life of a foreign ministry functionary.
Launch of English-language portal
The 2-day meeting will also offer an opportunity to launch an innovative pilot project designed by the Italian ACDMAE: an English-language website for the diplomatic community, both Italian and otherwise, with a database and space dedicated to announcements and information.
The portal is, for the moment, limited to Rome, but the intention is to export it under the umbrella of EUFASA to other foreign missions.
A dinner has also been arranged for Monday evening at Villa Madama, preceded by a brief concert by the women’s chorus of the ACDMAE, founded and conducted by Nancy Romano, a professional musician and wife of the Italian ambassador to Kiev. The chorus will perform several parts of “Stabat Mater” by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, which will later be performed in its entirety on Sunday April 6 in L’Aquila for the 5th anniversary of the earthquake in Abruzzo.
