The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, participated today in the video conference at ministerial level on the future of relations between the EU and the Southern Neighbourhood Countries, chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. The Ministerial Meeting was organised with the aim of relaunching and strengthening, also in view of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the strategic partnership between the EU and its southern neighbours (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine).
Scheduled to take place in parallel with the 5th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean and the Rome MED Dialogues 2020, the meeting represents a further opportunity for Italy to highlight its strong support to a partnership between the EU and the Southern Neighbourhood Countries as more and more inclusive and aimed at addressing horizontal issues, which can bring together rather than divide the members of this format.
Minister Di Maio renewed the Italian proposal for a common management of Mediterranean assets – in particular the environment, connectivity, digitisation, natural, fishery and energy resources – common resources that must be preserved, shared and managed for the benefit of all the Countries in the region. Mr. Di Maio also expressed the hope that the partnership between the EU and the Countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean can grow further, through an approach based on the strengthening of its political dimension, renewed economic cooperation and the promotion of regional integration.