The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano: “Three voting rounds with Milan always ahead, we were only duped at the coin toss.”
Milan: never came second in the three rounds of votes.
“It was the coin toss, which was unlucky for us, the imponderable and sardonic variable that decided in favour of Amsterdam and against Milan.
Milan had already come out first at the first round of votes, when it is possible to make a tangible assessment of the worth of the candidacy and of the diplomatic action to support it, and also at the second round.
At the third round, we came first all the same, although on a par with Amsterdam.
In any case, the campaign in favour of Milan expressed great teamwork on the part of team Italy at all levels, and put the limelight on Milan, on its dynamic business system and, in particular, on the private pharmaceutical sector, the flagship industry of Lombardy and of Italy on the whole. Allow me to express a special thanks to the diplomatic network and to all institutional and private players who worked to support the candidacy of Milan.”
