Hon. Tajani, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, don’t you believe that Italy’s weight in Europe and in the world runs the risk of weakening, rather than strengthening, if the reform of local authorities, which aggravates the imbalances in Italy and impoverishes its capital city, is adopted?
“Autonomy must absolutely not widen the gap between North and South that weighs on our Italy and cannot harm its capital city. The problem lies in maintaining balance and cohesion, a virtuous relationship of exchange and equal interdependence, between the various parts of Italy. This cannot be disregarded. Just as the strengthening of Rome’s role is essential. On this second aspect, I believe that the government forces will find an agreement. Because Rome’s centrality, strength, powers and potential need to be significantly increased. Not only Rome’s prestige, but also the importance of the entire Italian system in the eyes of our compatriots and the rest of the world, depend on it. The capital of Italy cannot be considered a city like any other. It must have the same powers as Paris, Berlin, Washington. All national capitals have a different and recognised status compared to other cities. Autonomy cannot disregard the role of Rome’.
Don’t you think that Minister Calderoli’s draft bill seem to disregard the Rome issue?
“I am interested in emphasising an essential aspect, which is that of including the enhanced role of our capital city in the Constitution. This is the main and unavoidable path. I have no doubt, however, that the League will be in favour of giving more powers to Rome. A common position emerges in our government meetings”.
Don’t you believe that a capital city, which is not strengthened in a country weakened by the inequalities resulting from autonomy, runs the risk of having less strength for its great battles such as the Expo?
“This is a dossier at the top of government’s attention. We are strongly committed to ensuring that Expo 2030 takes place in Rome. We are campaigning intensely to gather support around the world to promote our candidature. We want to get to the runoff, but we know that it is a difficult game because our rivals are very strong”.
Are you referring to Saudi Arabia?
“Not only to Saudi Arabia. There are other candidates. I am thinking of Odessa and Busan. We are trying hard. The Ryder Golf Cup, which will be held in Rome next year, must in turn become a great event not only for sport, but also because capable of turning the world spotlight on Rome and Italy. This is the reason why, together with the Ministers of Sport and Tourism, we will make the Ryder Cup known through all the Italian Embassies. This great event can also be a showcase to conquer the Expo.”
In short, at this stage – if autonomy does not destroy everything – is there significant room for Italy’s new protagonism at international level?
“I am absolutely convinced of this. The fields of action are different. I am thinking of the Balkans. On 24 January 2023, I will organise the Italian Conference on the Balkans in Trieste. This will be followed in the coming months by various business forums, starting with Belgrade and Pristina. We are paying close attention to Italy’s political and economic presence in that region. We want to be bearers of peace, stability, and growth. We have no intention whatsoever of leaving the Balkans to the penetration of non-European interests. This is the reason why we support the candidacy of Bosnia and Herzegovina as EU members. The same holds true for other candidate countries, namely Montenegro, Serbia and Albania. In these and in other areas, Italy must count much more. Both in terms of economic strength and political weight. The presence of our military in the Balkans and around the world is not just formal. It is an important sign of our foreign policy and economic strategy and all the efforts of presence and action must serve to increasingly internationalise Italian companies and create a context in which they can work well and contribute to the development of those countries”.
Ukraine is a country to be rebuilt politically and economically. Can Italy play a leading role in that scenario?
“We have already taken on an important role. Economically, we are supporting Ukraine in every way. We have just allocated another ten million euro to this country. Once the war is over – and we must do everything to bring it to an end – it will be a matter of reconstruction. Since Ukraine is a candidate country for EU membership, Italy wants to be an important part of reconstruction. We intend to be at the forefront of this important commitment for everyone. It has been decided to create a European platform for civil aid and we are an integral part of this project. We are already thinking about what our companies can do. They shall play a leading role in the reconstruction and modernisation of infrastructure in Ukraine. But it is also a matter of giving new life and a new future to cities and remaking them, ranging from school building to housing and institutional construction. There will be much work and many building sites to put in place. Significant investment is needed and the Italian government will support the participation of our companies.”
What does the government intend to do in practice?
“As early as the coming days, there will be the first technical meetings at the Farnesina with business organisations. It would not be a bad idea to set up a Recovery Fund dedicated to Ukraine’s reconstruction”.
Will Italy be the mouthpiece for this reconstruction project?
“It is the idea I will propose, very shortly, to the government. But certainly Italy must be ready to make available all its know-how and its industries, which are at the forefront, to get that piece of Europe back on its feet and to make Ukraine be fully part of Europe. We could set up joint ventures with Ukrainian companies and work together.”
Don’t you believe that, in order to do all this, we shall overcome the competition of countries – ranging from France to Germany – that care very much about their own interests and the expansion of these interests?
“We must not be outdone. Competition is part of the game. We have quality and extraordinary companies in Italy and we are absolutely capable of playing the reconstruction game on equal terms. We can also create partnerships with other European companies in and for Ukraine. The whole EU must work for the future of that tormented country.”
But for the time being there is war and it does not seem close to an end.
“This is precisely why we must do everything to end it as soon as possible. And commit ourselves to Ukraine’s reconstruction and growth. When that country is part of the EU, that market will be a European internal market. All our forces must be committed to making Ukraine a modern country with a highly functional infrastructure”.
Due to low labour costs, Ukraine can possibly also become a place where Italian companies can be established. What do you think of this possibility?
‘We want to internationalise our companies even more. It means that the headquarters remain in Italy, but work is done everywhere. From this viewpoint, Ukraine can be an opportunity both for us and for them”.
But if Italy continues to quarrel with Brussels, don’t we end up weakening rather than increasing our weight everywhere?
“Look, we are not quarrelling with Europe at all. We are making our case, precisely to be protagonists in Europe. We want to have more Italy in Europe. This is what the French do for France and the Germans do for Germany – and I say so with good reason as a former President of the European Parliament and as someone who has direct knowledge of the dynamics prevailing in Brussels. On this we have much to learn from them. Italy has finally decided to catch up.”
