(Adnkronos) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, and the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, met today at the Farnesina, during which the main topics of bilateral and multilateral cooperation were discussed. Italy and Portugal – reads a joint note – want to strategically strengthen their bilateral relations, in order to respond together to the increasingly intense challenges of the changing international and economic landscape.
Noting the excellent level of partnership between Rome and Lisbon both within the EU and within the Atlantic Alliance, the ministers planned new joint actions for the two governments, starting with the economic, defense, cultural and linguistic spheres. “There is enormous potential that has not yet been fully exploited in political and commercial relations with Portugal. We have agreed to start from the strategic and highly innovative sectors such as the maritime economy, space, defense and energy to give new impetus to collaboration between our productive fabrics,” said Minister Antonio Tajani.
Portuguese Foreign Minister Rangel said: “This visit represents a great opportunity to relaunch relations between Italy and Portugal in various areas, primarily economic and cultural.”
The two ministers stressed the importance of working together to implement the EU’s Global Gateway, in synergy with the Mattei Plan for Africa and the Portuguese Cooperation Strategy. The current situation in Mozambique was also discussed, on which both countries underlined their commitment to peace and stability in the country.
Tajani and Rangel addressed the main common challenges on the international scene, starting with the latest developments in the Middle East and Ukraine. Minister Tajani discussed in depth with his Portuguese counterpart the results of his recent missions to Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. A common understanding emerged on support for the truce reached and the prospects for reconstruction, also thanks to the Food for Gaza initiative.
On Syria, it was agreed to act in concert to strengthen the possibilities of stabilizing an area that is strategic for the security of the entire Middle East, focusing on careful but positive engagement with the new government authorities.
Within the EU, the ministers agreed on the importance of relaunching competitiveness and strengthening a common industrial strategy. Tajani and Rangel also explored the prospects for transatlantic relations, with particular attention to possible developments in the field of trade policy.
The ministers then discussed the issue of cooperation in the field of migration, agreeing on the need to further develop collaboration agreements between the EU and countries of transit and origin and to ensure the correct application of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, maintaining a balance between solidarity and responsibility and guaranteeing legal migration channels.
During the discussions, the full and constant support of Italy and Portugal for the Ukrainian people and the common commitment to achieving a just peace were reaffirmed. Rome and Lisbon fully share the need to strengthen the partnership with the African continent and with Latin America, also thanks to the EU-Mercosur agreement.
