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President Meloni’s speech at ‘Rome MED - Mediterranean Dialogues’

Saturday, 3 December 2022

[The following video is available in Italian only]

I first of all wish to thank the Ministers, authorities and many international guests who are gathered here today. I of course also wish to thank Minister [of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation] Tajani, Deputy Minister [of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation] Cirielli and Ambassador Massolo for their hospitality in organising this event, which I simply had to attend in person. I must begin by congratulating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (‘ISPI’) for the themes chosen for this edition of ‘Rome MED – Mediterranean Dialogues’. This is the eighth edition of this event and this continuity shows how important dialogue is to Italy; this conference always focuses on basically three core concepts, as also reflected by this edition’s leitmotif: interdependence, resilience, cooperation. I shall start from Minister Tajani’s words: with this Government, Italy is strongly committed to strengthening its role in the Mediterranean. 
We are aware that it is only by creating an area of stability and shared prosperity that we can effectively overcome the historic challenges we are facing, from food security and health to climate change. 
Italy has always championed an inclusive and constructive approach to tackle these challenges: this is why we welcomed the European Union adopting a ‘New Agenda for the Mediterranean’, which we believe, combined with adequate financial commitments, can revitalise the partnership, stimulating fairer and more sustainable growth that pays more attention to people’s needs.
It must be said that Italy can be seen as a forerunner for this strategy, as this conference demonstrates so well: this is not a sporadic event but rather a key component of a much more complex strategy, of a mosaic of Italian actions to promote a positive agenda in the wider Mediterranean.

The aim of the ‘Rome MED - Mediterranean Dialogues’ conferences is to help strengthen regional cooperation mechanisms and mobilise efforts by our partners towards an area that plays a central role, not only in the interest of Italy but for common strategic interests too. Dialogue on challenges regarding the Mediterranean is of course a precious and indispensable opportunity for discussion. Holding these dialogues here in Rome, at the heart of the basin where Europe, Africa and Asia meet, is a source of pride for us and, at the same time, of great responsibility. This is why it was so important to me to attend this edition in person.


We are aware that solid ‘dialogue-based geopolitics’ can only build and consolidate in the area if based on an awareness of our cultural identities and values, acknowledging that our prosperity is only possible if our neighbours prosper too.
This is why, when the new Government took office, I spoke about the need for Italy to promote a ‘Mattei plan’ for Africa: a virtuous cooperation and growth model between the European Union and African nations with an approach that takes its example from the great Italian Enrico Mattei; a model based not on predatory actions towards African nations, but on cooperation that respects mutual interests, as has been said, and on development that enhances each other’s identities and potential.
 
I very much appreciated how Ambassador Massolo described nations as being the “subject and not the object of cooperation”. I completely agree. This is already Italy’s approach and, in this regard, we can act as a guide, encouraging all the others to adopt it too. This is the sort of role that this Government would like to give to our nation.
 
In our view, this type of approach also allows for the concerning spread of Islamist radicalism to be countered more efficiently, especially in the Sub-Saharan region. The discussions held over the last few days have indeed highlighted many critical issues, but also surprising opportunities. Fate undoubtedly somehow challenges us through crises, and in doing so it also puts us to the test; it tests our resourcefulness and our ability to react. This is something that Enrico Mattei himself taught us, as he used to say that “ingenuity is seeing possibilities where others see none”.
For example, while, on the one hand, climate change causes desertification – and therefore leads to further impoverishment and destabilisation – on the other, opportunities are paradoxically presented by increasingly barren areas, as these are actually rich in water and therefore need the technology to be able to use that water, as the President of Niger underlined so well. So, we must all stand ready to meet these challenges together, and to understand that, the more difficult the challenge, the more our approach must insist on raising the bar. This is why we need dialogues such as these.
 
There are many challenges and one of the main ones also being discussed here at Rome MED - Mediterranean Dialogues is migration. This is a structural and global phenomenon and its dynamics in the Mediterranean often originate further away, starting with the Sahel, where it is no coincidence that our diplomatic and military presence and cooperation with our partners has significantly increased.

I wish to thank the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the President of the Republic of Niger, whose presence here has enriched discussions. The Mediterranean needs to be primarily perceived as a community with a common destiny, a meeting point between national identities and not, as happens too often, as a place of death caused by human traffickers. We therefore need more Europe, we need more Europe on the ‘southern flank’, as Italy has long been demanding and has done so particularly recently, because, alone, we cannot deal with migration flows that have now reached unmanageable proportions. Europe must urgently create a multilateral cooperation framework based on legal flows and on effective preventive action to counter irregular flows, which must also include an indispensable component: European management of repatriations. 
Over 94 thousand people have arrived in Italy since the beginning of this year; together with other countries of first entry, Italy is bearing the heaviest burden in protecting Europe’s borders against human trafficking in the Mediterranean.

The central Mediterranean route has recently been considered a priority in a European Commission document for the first time. I consider this to be a victory. This had never happened and probably never would have if Italy hadn’t raised two matters: respect for international legality and the need to tackle the migration phenomenon at structural level. Faced with a phenomenon of this scale, which involves the countries of origin and of transit as well as the countries of destination, a serious and concrete commitment is needed from everyone. A common commitment among European Union member states on the one hand and southern Mediterranean states on the other. This is why we are asking the EU to relaunch effective implementation of the commitments undertaken too long ago, by cooperating on migration with our partners in Africa and the Mediterranean, who need to be more involved in the prevention of and fight against human trafficking. We are seeing new conflict scenarios being defined, as well as new alliances. The Italian Government is committed to promoting active dialogue with all countries of the wider Mediterranean, in a frank and articulate manner, both at bilateral level and as a member of the European Union and NATO. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine marks a clear, historic dividing line, given its dramatic human, social and economic costs. It irreversibly clarifies that, if we want to talk about security today – and, above all, if we want to achieve it – we must use a wider definition of the concept of security. This concept does indeed include political solutions, institutional consolidation and civil reconstruction, but it also includes just as well-defined actions to safeguard human, cultural, environmental, energy and food security.
 
It is no coincidence that ‘human security’ is talked about, which means protecting our communities against extremist attacks and defending our territories against climate change, as well as a third aspect that has not been taken into consideration enough until now, and that is protecting cultural heritage. It is no surprise that Italy is at the forefront of protecting the heritage left by the previous generations in each nation, without which there can be no richness for the future generations, and this is particularly true for the wider Mediterranean. As Paul Valéry wrote, “never, and nowhere in the world, has it been possible to observe such a ferment of spirits, such a production of wealth, in such a small area and in such a short period of time”.

Security is what unites us; it is not what divides us. Ultimately, security is an ‘enabling’ condition; it is a precondition for the economic and social development of nations, for the promotion and protection of human rights, for the confirmation and consolidation of democratic institutions. Everything starts from here. Italy’s position regarding the importance, stability and security of the Mediterranean is based on this awareness. This is certainly about national interests but, on closer inspection, also European interests, which define the strategic depth of our foreign policy.
Full and lasting stabilisation in Libya is undoubtedly one of the most urgent and delicate foreign policy and national security priorities, also because of the impacts that prolonged instability in Libya is likely to have in terms of migration flows and energy supply security for the whole of Europe. We wish to take this opportunity to once again invite Libya’s political players to commit to providing the country with solid and democratically legitimate institutions. It will then also be possible to complete the process of withdrawing mercenaries and foreign fighters from the country. Only a Libya-led process with the support of the United Nations can lead to a full and lasting solution to the crisis in the country.

Italy also continues to support the need for closer cooperation between countries in the Maghreb, in order to create conditions for development and stability. The current state of emergency in Tunisia must be overcome as soon as possible, with a clear and shared political path being defined that can allow institutions to function properly again – starting with Parliament – and for economic and social emergencies to be dealt with. Italy continues to stand by Tunisia, as it has done in the past.

We firmly support the sea boundary agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which shows how a joint exploitation of energy resources can and must be a driver, also in the eastern Mediterranean, of economic growth and development for the entire region.
We are closely following the process of normalisation in relations between Israel and the Arab world and the need to re-internationalise the peace process in order to reach a viable and fair two-state solution that is directly negotiated between the parties.
After years of polarisation, we are watching the new cooperation dynamics in the Gulf with interest, and our commitment in Iraq remains significant, where we are contributing to the gradual expansion of the NATO mission (NMI), which we assumed command of last May, in full respect of Iraqi sovereignty and in close cooperation with the Baghdad authorities.
One of Italy’s main objectives in the Euro-Mediterranean region is to have the southern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy further developed, transforming it into a real ‘Mediterranean partnership’ that deals with more than just crisis management and that goes beyond bilateral relations between the EU and the individual countries along the Mediterranean’s southern shores.
Italy is and can be even more of a connection and natural energy bridge between the Mediterranean and Europe. This is one of the great strategic challenges that this Government would like to pursue and that we are working on by virtue of Italy’s unique geographical position, infrastructure, cooperative approach and the precious contribution of its companies. We boast a rich diversification of both ‘routes’ (gas pipelines and electricity power lines) and sources. Now more than ever, this has crucial value for our common security, for our energy resilience and for the development of ever closer relations.

Our strategic partnership with Algeria in particular has allowed us to act quickly over the last few months to reduce our dependence on Russian natural gas. The wider Mediterranean is the pillar of Italy’s energy security: we get approximately 45% of our natural gas imports from there. Today, that figure stands at almost 60% if we count the Azerbaijani supplies via the TAP through Turkey, Greece and Albania. This area has huge potential and can make a huge contribution to European energy security at this time of crisis, not only with regard to natural gas but also for the development and trade of sustainable, affordable and accessible energy. It is right that many African nations have the ambition to play a leading role in the ecological transition and with regard to energy security. 
It is precisely because we are aware of this that the Italian system is taking action in almost every country in the area for the rapid development of renewable energy, technological advances, digital infrastructure and smart grids. Europe is destined to be one of the largest import markets for green hydrogen. We spoke about this a few days ago with the President of Mauritania. We have the possibility to produce it in the wider Mediterranean and to trade it at competitive prices. So, yes, energy is a national asset, but at the same time it is an inclusive asset and, therefore, a common asset. Cooperation on this therefore becomes cooperation to the benefit and for the growth of all the nations involved.

The EU must create partnerships based on investment and on a chain of technology. There is a significant, unresolved issue at European level regarding supply chains, and this is something we have raised several times because Italy has ended up controlling almost nothing anymore. We realised this when the shocks of the last few years came along. Today, we have realised this with regard to energy, yesterday with regard to the pandemic, in terms of chips and semiconductors. In this regard, Europe has extended its supply chains so much that it barely has control of anything anymore. Today, the great challenge is to take charge of our own destiny, working on national supply chains, European supply chains and also on friend-shoring and near-shoring, i.e., on supply chains linked to nearby nations.  As far as we are concerned, this challenge is linked to the issue of the Mediterranean.

Europe’s must be a two-way partnership, aimed at both facilitating the trade of energy sources and encouraging the production of decarbonised power and the green transition throughout the Mediterranean region. It is necessary to give a strong signal that the centre of gravity of European energy trade is shifting towards the Mediterranean. Italy wants to, and can, play a leading role in this strategy and European funding will be fundamental.

The digital transition and its repercussions in terms of innovation are another important catalyst for the modernisation of the entire region. The region’s integration and sustainable growth must be supported. Digitalisation can allow companies on both sides of the Mediterranean to become more competitive and integrate their value chains. The creation of a cyberspace remains one of the greatest sources of opportunity for societies and for the international system. In line with the priorities that the EU assigns to the digital transition, also with regard to external action, Italy’s cooperation strategy promotes the spread of digitalisation in many sectors (I am thinking of social-economic development, institutional governance, health, education, professional training, sustainable tourism and enhancing cultural heritage). 


In such a complex area as the Mediterranean, that is facing continuous challenges and continuous change, women and young people can play a key role in building more cohesive and resilient societies. They must be allowed to put their vision and energy to good use, giving them a leading role in their own futures and in the future of their respective societies, fully guaranteeing their rights and fighting against all forms of violence and discrimination. We cannot turn a blind eye to what has been happening over the last few months to the women and young people protesting in Iran. Eroding areas of freedom or preventing women and young girls from working or getting an education – here, I am referring above all to Afghanistan – means jeopardising the future of those countries. There can be no future unless fundamental freedoms are recognised and unless equal dignity is guaranteed for all human beings.


In the southern and eastern Mediterranean, where 40% of the population are under the age of 25, the youth unemployment rate has been one of the highest in the world for the last two decades, despite the high level of education among young people in all Euro-Mediterranean countries. With regard to women, there can be no development unless they can play a leading role in their societies. Jobs need to be created and a local ecosystem needs to be promoted that is favourable for young entrepreneurs and female entrepreneurs and that encourages young people and women to participate in the public life of the societies to which they belong. 
One of the fundamental freedoms that Italy is committed to supporting is the freedom of religion and belief: a fundamental human right which, still too often, is denied or not sufficiently guaranteed. Italy stands by religious minorities that fall victim to attacks, violence and discrimination in all parts of the world, and supports the efforts of our partners in the wider Mediterranean to protect these communities and, with them, the core values of religious freedom and the safeguarding of and respect for religious heritage and holy sites. 

I shall conclude with an observation: many European policies risk being incomplete unless they are included within a wider Euro-Mediterranean dimension. President Mattarella defined the Mediterranean as “an area with great cultural diversity, where philosophies are developed and unparalleled scientific discoveries are made, with precious contributions interacting among different worlds of knowledge, which gave rise to clashes and then to unprecedented unions”. I thought this was a very beautiful thing to say. To build a positive agenda, with goals being shared among populations with different identities, it is therefore necessary to restart by once again focusing attention on the individual, on individual cultural, educational and social needs. I therefore wish to thank you once again for the ideas and proposals that have enriched discussions over this three-day event. The outcomes of these discussions will be a source of inspiration, as [Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs] Tajani said, to guide Italy’s cooperation with its partners in the wider Mediterranean region, along a shared path that guarantees security, stability and development for the generations of today and tomorrow. 
So, thank you, and I invite you all to join Ambassador Massolo at the ninth edition of Rome MED – Mediterranean Dialogues!
[Courtesy translation]