Representatives of 34 countries, 33 heads of state, ministers and international organisation officials, along with 400 economic, political and cultural leaders, held 3 days of meetings on the Mediterranean. A dialogue centred on prosperity, security, migration, media, culture and civil society, RomeMed 2015 was aimed at creating a moment of frank encounter and analysis on the challenges and opportunities the Mediterranean region offers.
In his closing speech, Minister Gentiloni underscored the need to avoid repeating past errors, which “does not mean forgetting our values and principles or being absent to the Mediterranean: Mare Nostrum must not become Mare Nullis”.
The challenges the minister pointed out included the need to discuss a new Mediterranean order and new rules on trust among the region’s states, increased trade and multilateralism, not only in confronting emergencies but also with regard to regional organisations (African Union, League of Arab States and Gulf Cooperation Council).
“The broader Mediterranean must be viewed as a place of extraordinary and positive opportunities. Our neighbours are collaborators on our future development, and not a threat”, Gentiloni concluded.
