Mission of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, to Barcelona for the 8th Regional Forum of the Union[...]

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, is on a mission to Barcelona, Spain, to attend the eighth Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), which brings together the organization's Foreign Ministers.

The Deputy Prime Minister said: "Besides reaffirming Italy's clear condemnation of Hamas's brutal aggression and reiterating our support for Israel's right to defend itself, I want to emphasize the importance that the Italian government attaches to dialogue with countries in the region and the need to foster regional coordination on the crisis."

He also added that "the agreement on the release of hostages demonstrates the central role played by dialogue and diplomacy, as well as the need to continue working for a political solution to the conflict so that it does not expand regionally."

On the sidelines of the Forum's works, Hon. Tajani will meet with his counterparts from countries in the Mediterranean and the Middle East region.

In light of the tragic situation in the Gaza Strip, the meeting of the UfM (which brings together 43 Member States, including countries from the EU, the Southern shores of the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans) will be dedicated to an exchange of views designed to foster a constructive analysis for the stabilization of the Middle East region and also to start reflecting on the post-conflict and reconstruction phase in the Gaza Strip.