The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, will be on a mission in Brussels today, 19 March, and tomorrow, 20 March, to take part in the event “Vinitaly Preview: The Excellence of Made in Italy in Brussels” and attend institutional meetings on the occasion of the European Council meeting.
This evening, the Minister will participate in a Vinitaly Fair presentation event at the Residence of the Italian Ambassador, attended by Belgian economic operators, institutions, and media representatives. Among the speakers will be the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Fontana, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests, Lollobrigida, the President of Veronafiere, Bricolo, and the President of ITA, Zoppas. On this occasion, Tajani will highlight the strong performance of Italian wine exports in 2024 (€8.13 billion, +5.52% compared to 2023), the strategic role of Vinitaly in showcasing Italy’s wine excellence globally, and the importance of engaging with industry associations to enhance positioning in key markets. The Minister will also underscore that Brussels is a key venue for advocating Italy’s positions on food labelling regulations.
On Thursday, 20 March, Minister Tajani will meet with Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. This meeting, following the one held on 6 March, will provide an opportunity to review the EU’s trade strategy, considering recent US measures and the outcomes of the Italian technical mission to Washington. The Minister will reaffirm the importance of a closely coordinated European approach to avoid escalating tariff disputes while keeping the dialogue open with the US Administration to achieve balanced solutions. Italy will also push for accelerating the expansion of the EU’s network of free trade agreements with third countries, to diversify export markets for European businesses.
Finally, Tajani will attend the Summit and the Political Assembly of the European People’s Party, both taking place in Brussels in conjunction with the European Council meeting.
