Paris – celebrations for the 3rd anniversary of the Quirinal Treaty

The 3^rd anniversary of the signing of the Quirinal Treaty between Italy and France provided an opportunity for a double event organised by the Italian Embassy in Paris.

In the prestigious halls of the Hôtel de la Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville, the historic seat of the diplomatic delegation symbolising the unique bond between Italy and France together with Palazzo Farnese in Rome, a reception was held in the presence of the Ambassador of Italy in Paris, Emanuela D'Alessandro, the French Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Benjamin Haddad, the President of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces Committee of French Senate, Cédric Perrin, the Chair of the French Senate's European Affairs Committee, Jean-François Rapin, the Secretary General of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Anne-Marie Descôtes, and numerous high-ranking personalities from the Italian-French parliamentary, institutional, political, economic and cultural world.

In saluting the work carried out by Descôtes together with her Italian counterpart - the Secretary General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia - as "guardians" of the Treaty, Ambassador D'Alessandro highlighted the very important results achieved in all the most important areas of bilateral cooperation thanks to the Treaty, particularly in today's context of serious international crises. "The Quirinal Treaty," she said, "has imparted a new dynamic to relations between Italy and France. In keeping with the Treaty, this dynamic goes far beyond the relationship between the two countries, ensuring a very important and decisive added value, also at the European level." "The symbol of a strategic rapprochement between France and Italy and the expression of our unshakeable common will to pursue a European ambition together, the results achieved by the Quirinal Treaty," said Minister Haddad, "testify to the uniqueness of the bond of friendship between our two countries." "I hope," he concluded, "that we will continue to pursue this form of cooperation, which must be creative and give new impetus to the European Union."

The second event organised by the Embassy was a day of public diplomacy and "Open Doors". Over 100 students belonging to some fifteen associations and bodies were welcomed into the Hôtel de la Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville.

In their introductory speeches, the Ambassador of Italy to France, Emanuela D'Alessandro, and the Head of the Europe 2 Service of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Thomas Guibert, illustrated the most salient features of Italian-French cooperation in all the most important sectors and in the broader context of today's major international challenges, highlighting the numerous achievements and interesting opportunities offered at all levels by the Quirinal Treaty.

The participating girls and boys then engaged in a debate, together with diplomats and experts from the Embassy, on relations between Italy and France and current international and European affairs.