The G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Fiuggi and the Mediterranean Dialogues in Rome kick off

Two significant international events will begin tomorrow, 25 November, in Italy: the Mediterranean Dialogues in Rome and the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Fiuggi-Anagni.

The 10^th edition of the Mediterranean Dialogues (Med Dialogues) Conference will kick off on 25 November at 9:00 a.m. It will be inaugurated by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani. On 27 November, Minister Tajani will lead a panel focused on the Western Balkans and will also speak at the closing ceremony alongside Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Institute for International Policy Studies (ISPI), "The Mediterranean Dialogues have become an international reference point for discussing and addressing the strategic issues facing the enlarged Mediterranean region", as noted by Tajani.

This year's edition is designed to interact with the G7 meeting. Participants will include the Foreign Ministers of Croatia, Jordan, Egypt, India, Libya, Lebanon, Yemen, and Palestine. For the first time, countries from the Western Balkans have also been invited, with the Foreign Ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro participating. Additionally, high-level representatives from regional and international organisations will attend, including the Secretary-General of the Arab League.

The G7 proceedings will commence on the afternoon of Monday, 25 November. Minister Tajani will welcome the foreign ministers of the G7 countries to Anagni, at the historic Palazzo della Ragione. The opening session will focus on the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea. Participants will discuss ways to support efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as initiatives to assist the population and promote a credible political framework for stability in the region.

At Italy's initiative, the agenda will also include the International Criminal Court's decisions and their potential impact on the ongoing crisis in Lebanon and Gaza.

The discussions will continue in Fiuggi, at the Palazzo dei Congressi, where an expanded dialogue session will include the ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, along with the Secretary-General of the Arab League.

"As the Italian G7 Presidency, we are committed to peace in the Middle East. We have invited partners from the region to promote dialogue with the G7 members. Only by working together can we find concrete solutions to bring peace and stability to the region," Tajani emphasised.

At the end of the first day of proceedings, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the G7 Foreign Ministers will participate in an inauguration ceremony for a red bench. This event will also include the installation of a commemorative plaque. This initiative symbolises Italy's commitment, as the G7 Presidency, to addressing the issue of preventing and combating violence against women and girls, particularly in various international conflict situations.

On the second day of the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, 26 November, discussions will begin with a focus on Ukraine, featuring Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha. This session will explore ways to support Ukraine in addressing ongoing Russian aggression, initiatives for future reconstruction, and the prospects for achieving a just peace.

Subsequently, the proceedings will shift to the Indo-Pacific region, which is vital for security and global trade. Foreign Ministers from key Asian countries, including South Korea, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, will be in attendance. They will specifically discuss strategies to defend the international order and ways to enhance cooperation and connectivity to promote regional and global prosperity.

The work will then focus on regional issues, paying special attention to partnerships with Africa and addressing crises in Haiti and Venezuela. "Our agenda highlights the G7 Presidency's commitment to tackling numerous international crises. Alongside our invited partners, we are striving to protect the multilateral system and ensure global peace and prosperity by maintaining an open dialogue with all stakeholders involved," concluded Minister Tajani.