Minister Tajani’s phone call with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, had another telephone conversation today with the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot. The conversation focused on the situation in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, the European Union and bilateral relations.

Minister Tajani said: "With Minister Barrot we share the need to reach a ceasefire in the Middle East as soon as possible. It is a priority now to avoid further escalation on the Iranian side and to favour an agreement between Israel and Hamas, also in light of Sinwar's death."

The two Ministers also dwelt on the situation in the Lebanon, agreeing on the priority of resolving the internal political crisis and the support to be provided to the Lebanese armed forces in order to ensure the stability of the country. Minister Tajani underlined: "We want to step up cooperation with international partners to strengthen the Lebanese institutions. With my colleague Barrot, we reiterated the importance of the UNIFIL mission for the demilitarisation of the Blue Line, in implementation of Resolution No. 1701, stressing the unacceptability of any attack against the military and facilities on the ground."

Minister Tajani explained:"Italy and France are committed to providing the maximum support to the local populations affected by the conflict." He recalled that "the Humanitarian Conference on the Middle East at the G7 in Pescara, and the one in Paris on the Lebanon held a few days later, made it possible to identify concrete aid to address the current crisis". Minister Tajani then illustrated to Minister Barrot the 27 million euros to address the crisis in the Lebanon and the 70 million euros for the humanitarian response in Gaza allocated by Italy. He also highlighted the results achieved by the "Food for Gaza" programme, with the successful involvement of the private sector and non-governmental organisations.

Ministers Tajani and Barrot then turned to the situation in Ukraine, expressing concern over the increase in Russian attacks against civilian infrastructure and also over reports of the North Korean forces' involvement in the conflict. Minister Tajani stated: 'We must continue our support for Ukraine, also in view of the coming winter. In addition to military aid, Italy has earmarked 15 million euros of immediate aid for critical infrastructure and we are also committed to future reconstruction, with the preparation of the Ukraine Recovery Conference scheduled for 10 and 11 July in Rome."

The two Ministers also discussed the prospects and priorities of the new European institutional cycle, also in light of the US elections, highlighting the need for the EU to strengthen the competitiveness of its single market, besides tackling the issue of irregular immigration with increasingly concrete measures. The conversation thus made it possible to reaffirm the priority of connectivity between Italy and France. Minister Tajani said: 'We must ensure the full operation of the Alpine infrastructure to favour our companies." 'He recalled the difficulties regarding the situation of the Mont Blanc connections, in addition to those of Frejus, Mont-Cenis and Tenda.