Italy at the center of the international agenda in 2017
Italy will chair the G7, host the 60th anniversary of the EU, and starts its membership in the UN Security Council.
[Disponibile anche in italiano]
In his first address to the Italian Parliament, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni outlined the country’s international agenda for next year as, “In a couple of weeks, Italy will start its rotating membership in the Security Council of the United Nations and will take over the presidency of the G7.”
The challenges and uncertainties are many, including the presidential transition in the US until January 20. I take this opportunity also to confirm that we are ready to continue to collaborate with the United States — which has always been our main partner and ally — in the defense of our principles and in our strong support of the Atlantic Alliance.
He added: “Our international challenges are accentuated in many hot spots around the world. Our work will be most relevant in the context of the European Union. […] Italy is one of the founding members of the EU and in my previous role I have always highlighted with the other six founding nations Italy’s extraordinary European experience — an experience that we are about to celebrate, in March, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the EU, and that will pave the road ahead.”
Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, in an open letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, highlighted “the crucial role of foreign policy” in particular when it comes to Italy’s role in finding solutions to the migration crisis and adopting policies for economic growth.
Minister Alfano said that Italy’s role next year “represents an extraordinary occasion for our foreign policy and for the promotion of Italy’s vision, traditionally based on dialogue, the respect of human rights, multilateralism, with a strong commitment to Europe and transatlantic relations.”
Next year’s international events will also allow us to place once again the Mediterranean at the center of the international agenda.
For more on the G7 summit in Taormina, Sicily, and our dispatches on the Italian presidency of the G7 in 2017, follow our G7inUS publication here onMedium and Medium Italiano, or follow us on Twitter. For the official channel of the G7 presidency in 2017, follow @G7Italy2017 on Twitter and use hashtag #G7Italy2017.
