The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, visited the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Garching, near Munich, today. ESO is Europe’s leading astronomical research institution and the world’s most productive astronomical observatory. During his visit, the Minister met with Italian scientists working at the organisation and representatives of the Italian community in Munich.
“We are proud of Italy’s significant role within ESO. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation contributes EUR 25 million annually to the organisation’s budget, and many of our Italian nationals work here, often holding prestigious positions. This is a cornerstone of foreign policy that we can all take pride in,” said the Minister. “Numerous Italian companies collaborate with ESO on cutting-edge projects of immense technological and scientific value,” he continued. “Italy has a strong interest in a sector like astrophysics, which makes a significant contribution to innovation, growth, and European competitiveness,” concluded the Deputy Prime Minister.
Established in 1962, ESO now has 16 member states. Among its flagship initiatives is the construction of the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in Chile, set to become the world’s largest telescope. The project is directed by Italian scientist Roberto Tamai.
