At the initiative of the Italian Government, the leaders of almost all states on the southern shore of the wider Mediterranean, in the Middle East and the Gulf, as well as EU Member States of first arrival and a number of partners from the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, together with the heads of European institutions and international financial institutions, met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rome today, to address emergencies and launch a shared development strategy. Following the working sessions, President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni held a press conference
Conference objectives:

• Launching an international road map for the implementation of concrete measures for growth and development in the wider Mediterranean and Africa;
• Addressing the root causes of irregular migration flows to defeat human traffickers’ criminal activities;
• Finding solutions to protect the environment, meeting the challenges of energy diversification and climate change.

This is a foreign policy initiative where Italy will exercise its key role in the wider Mediterranean, with the aim of launching a multi-year road map, with concrete and verifiable commitments by the participating States on development and migration.
The Conference is another step as part of the Meloni Government’s wide-ranging diplomatic efforts to deal with the emergencies with an integrated approach that aims to build a multidimensional and long-term partnership of equals, based on solidarity among nations, respect for their sovereignty and shared responsibility.
The Conference aims to govern the migration phenomenon, combat human trafficking and promote economic development based on a new model of collaboration between states, by jointly planning and implementing initiatives and projects in six main sectors: agriculture; energy; infrastructure; education and training; health; water and hygiene.
The Conference format involves the leaders of almost all states on the southern shore of the wider Mediterranean, in the Middle East and the Gulf, as well as EU Member States of first arrival and a number of partners from the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, together with the heads of European institutions and international financial institutions. Nations of origin, of transit and of first arrival in Europe, and partners such as the Gulf Cooperation Council states.