The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, is in Berlin to participate in the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), the most important annual event to discuss economic support, reforms and the reconstruction of Ukraine, which Italy will organise in 2025.
Hon. Tajani stated: “The Italian government is firmly committed to supporting Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, as is also demonstrated by the large and authoritative presence of our business system in Berlin. This is a topic we have also placed at the centre of our G7 Presidency: we expect concrete results from the Conference and we are ready to take over to organise it in Italy in 2025.” He also pointed out that Italian bilateral assistance, net of military assistance and the contribution to the European one, so far amounts to over EUR 2 billion.
Hon. Tajani’s mission will open on the evening of 10 June with an event at the residence of the Italian Ambassador in Berlin entitled “The road to URC 2025: Italy for the reconstruction of Ukraine”, which will be attended by about forty Italian companies, associations, and institutions particularly focused on Ukraine, including the Italian trade Agency, SACE, SIMEST, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and Confindustra.
On 11 June the first Ministerial Meeting of the Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine will be held, followed by the opening ceremony in the presence of German Chancellor Scholz, Ukrainian President Zelensky, European Commission President von der Leyen, and European Council President Michel.
On 11 June, Hon. Tajani will sign the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on the Patronage for the Reconstruction of the City and Region of Odessa, aimed at establishing a general framework for cooperation and coordination with the Ukrainian authorities in order to maximise efforts and capabilities to contribute to the reconstruction of Odessa and its region after the conflict. The closing session of the Conference will be held on 12 June with a handover ceremony to Italy, which will organise the event in 2025, in which Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli will take part.
The Conference will be attended by Heads of State and Government from 77 countries: a total of around 1,800 participants are expected. Five hundred companies will be invited, of which 150 from Germany, 150 from Ukraine, and 200 from the other participating countries. The objectives of the Conference are to mobilise international support for the country’s resilience, recovery and modernisation and to provide assistance in implementing recovery projects, as well as to create appropriate conditions for companies to encourage private sector investment in Ukraine.
Ukraine Recovery Conference: Live Stream