The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, met today at the Foreign Ministry with his Austrian colleague Meinl-Reisinger.
The agenda focused on the two Ministers’ shared vision on the enlargement to the Western Balkans. In the talks, the need for continued action within the EU was shared to ensure that this priority remains equally shared among the 27 EU Member States and that tangible progress is measurable in the short term, with joint action also on the Danish Presidency.
With specific reference to the more strictly bilateral issues, Minister Tajani focused on cross-border cooperation, underlining that strengthening infrastructure between the two countries depends on the removal of barriers, including physical ones, of the European Common Market, which limit its competitiveness. In this sense, the Minister expressed his positive opinion on the progress made in the construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel and hoped for a definitive clarification on the issue of transport along the Brenner axis in both countries’ interest.
The two Ministers also reviewed the main international political dossiers. Starting from the war in Ukraine – also in view of the Ukraine Recovery Conference scheduled for 10 and 11 July in Rome, where Austria will be represented by the Minister for the Economy – the two Ministers shared the importance of the humanitarian dimension, as well as the need to involve companies, to ensure that the national private component is actively involved in the reconstruction.
The truce and the end of violence in Gaza remain a common priority. The Ministers updated each other on their respective national actions, with Italy constantly committed to reaffirming the essential need to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid and support for the mediation of the United States, Qatar and Egypt. They also shared the hope that the end of the crisis between Iran and Israel could lead to renewed stability in the entire Middle East.
Finally, with specific reference to European trade relations with the United States, Minister Tajani also laid emphasis on a long-term approach, centred on relaunching European competitiveness and industry. He highlighted that we need to develop a strategy for the large strategic industrial sectors at European level – automotive, steel, aluminium and chemicals – raising his Austrian colleague’s awareness of the need for streamlining and simplification, decarbonization and allocation of adequate resources as guiding principles of the European industrial revival.
