(Adnkronos) – Italy and Poland, two countries “of importance to Europe” have a “shared vision” on key international issue including the defence of war-battered Ukraine, foreign minister Antonio Tajani told reporters in Rome on Wednesday.
“There is a shared vision regarding the major issues of international politics, starting with the defence of Ukraine and its freedom,” Tajani said at a joint press briefing with Polish counterpart Radoslav Sikorski.
Tajani and Sikorski are among over 150 participants at the Italy-Poland Strategic Forum. The meeting aims to cementing bilateral dialogue and strategic cooperation on foreign policy including within the European Union, the United Nations and Nato, and reaffirm Italy and Poland’s shared support for Ukraine in its four-year-old war to repel invader Russia.
“We share the same positions as the Polish government on peace in the Middle East, and on bolstering European defence,” said Tajani.
On the escalating Middle East conflict since the United States and Israel began their war on Iran in late February, Tajani underlined the need for “strong European involvement in dialogue with all parties to ensure safe passage of ships through the critical Strait of Hormuz oil conduit.
“At this moment there is a need for strong European involvement in dialogue with Israel, the United States, Iran and the Gulf states, because freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is crucial for our industrialised nations,” Tajani stated.
With regard to the western Balkans, Italy and Poland stand read to back the EU entry of Albania, Montegro and the other regional candidates, according to Tajani.
“Naturally, we also support Ukraine and Moldova (in their EU accession bids),” he said.
Tajani and Sikorski were due to hold bilateral talks on the forum’s sidelines with a focus on strengthening economic partnerships in the energy defence and new technologies sectors and cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure, according to a foreign ministry statement.
Italy–Poland trade grew last year to nearly 37 billion euros in value, with Italian exports rising by 5.9 percent, the statement said.
