The Convention for 2015 between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Università Popolare di Trieste (UPT) and Unione Italiana was signed today, 2 July 2015, in Rome. For the Ministry, the Convention was signed by the Director General for the European Union, Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi; for the l’Università Popolare di Trieste by the Chair, Fabrizio Somma; and for Unione Italia by the Chair of the Executive Board, Maurizio Tremul.
Over 3 million euro for initiatives planned for 2015
For 2015 the Convention is worth 3,132,217 euro, dedicated to initiatives envisaged over the current year for the Italian community in the republics of Slovenia and Croatia, as previously agreed by the Coordination Committee chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Committee also includes representatives of Italy’s diplomatic-consular missions in Slovenia and Croatia, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venetia Giulia, the Università Popolare di Trieste, Unione Italiana and Federesuli, the last-named in a consultative role.
Italian language schools and nursery schools in Slovenia and Croatia
Fabrizio Somma and Maurizio Tremul both told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of their great satisfaction with the support given to activities on behalf of the Italian-speaking minority in Slovenia and Croatia. A significant part of the funding, 1,050,194 euro, will be devoted to schools and nursery schools in Slovenia and Croatia where Italian is the classroom language for their approximately 4000 pupils. The aim is to help fund teaching and support activities and to provide equipment and teaching materials.
As regards cultural, socio-economic, sports and arts activities, for the institutions, bodies and institutes operating in and for the Italian community 2,032,072 euro have been allocated for a broad range of activities, including on a self-funding basis. This programme will include initiatives in the university sector, support for business start-ups by young people, the broadcasting in Croatia of Italian programmes produced by TV Capodistria on the digital terrestrial network and an event for young Italians in Pula in September 2015.