Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani will visit the Mont Blanc Tunnel site tomorrow morning and will travel in the afternoon to Bard (Aosta Valley) for the third meeting of the Italy–France Cross-Border Cooperation Committee, which he will co-chair together with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.
The Committee will bring together local authorities, members of parliament and other bodies and organisations operating along the Italy–France border, with the aim of strengthening cross-border relations and discussing practical issues of mutual interest, such as mobility and transalpine connections, climate and water resource management, youth training and initiatives in support of bilingualism.
In this context, particular importance is attached to the modernisation of border crossings, and in particular the Mont Blanc Tunnel site, which Minister Tajani will visit in the morning.
On the occasion of the Committee meeting, the Minister will also hold a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart, Minister Barrot, during which they will discuss bilateral issues ahead of the forthcoming Italy–France Summit, with particular focus on economic cooperation. France is Italy’s third-largest export market, with bilateral trade increasing by 6% in 2025. The agenda will also include key European, regional and international issues.
Tajani and Barrot will also discuss the Middle East. Minister Tajani will reiterate Italy’s strong support for Lebanon’s institutions, the civilian population and the Lebanese Armed Forces, stressing the need to work towards a post-UNIFIL framework in order to avoid security vacuums following the withdrawal of the mission.
Other topics will include Gaza and the condemnation of violence by extremist settlers, as well as Italy’s request – supported also by France – to consider EU sanctions against Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir. The two Ministers will also discuss the Strait of Hormuz and proposals under discussion to restore freedom and security of navigation in the Strait.
At the end of the Committee’s work, Ministers Tajani and Barrot will hold a joint press conference.
