The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, will attend the Meeting of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) Council at Ministerial Level, to be held in Paris on Thursday 9 June. The Ministerial Meeting, which is the OECD’s foremost political event, is chaired by Italy this year and the topic shall be “The future we want: better policies for the next generation and a sustainable transition”.
The introductory speech by OECD Secretary General, Mathias Cormann, will be followed by the Keynote address, to be delivered by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Chair of the Meeting. Mexico and Norway will join Italy as Vice-Chairs.
Minister Di Maio will chair three working sessions.
In the first, co-chaired with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Daniele Franco, and dedicated to “Economic and other consequences of Russia’s aggression in a post-pandemic world”, the OECD member states will discuss the political and economic implications of the conflict in Ukraine, which has hindered the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Minister Di Maio, while reasserting Italy’s firm condemnation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine – which is causing death and destruction, violating the basic principles of international law – will confirm Italy’s support for dialogue and engagement in favour of a just and lasting peace.
In the second session, “Trade and Environmental Sustainability”, the Ministers will discuss the relation between trade and sustainability and how trade can positively help solve global environmental challenges while ensuring a better future for the next generations.
In the last session, “OECD and Africa: a future together”, a structured partnership between the OECD and Africa will be discussed for the first time, as advocated by Italy’; the goal being that of bolstering Africa’s ability to draft national public policies and create a more favourable context for private investments in Africa. The Ministerial session – to be attended by the current rotating Chairperson of the African Union, President of Senegal Macky Sall, at the invitation of Prime Minister Draghi – will also be the first high-profle event between Western countries and African countries since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Africa will be the focal point at the working dinner of the Ministers, dedicated to the current energy scenario. The meeting will also be attended by the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol.
