The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, flanked by Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli, chaired the twelfth plenary session of the National Council for Development Cooperation (CNCS) at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Farnesina).
The CNCS is a permanent forum for dialogue with stakeholders involved in Italian development cooperation. It meets at least once a year to express opinions on strategies, planning, policy guidelines, intervention tools, and the effectiveness of development cooperation policies. Opening remarks were also delivered by Stefania Craxi, President of the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and Member of Parliament Federica Onori.
In his opening speech, Minister Tajani explained that the Farnesina operates through a strong team effort involving institutions, associations, the third sector, and the Catholic community. He reaffirmed that today’s major global challenges can only be addressed within a solid and efficient multilateral system, in which Italy—and Rome in particular—plays an increasingly prominent role.
With regard to Sudan, the Minister also announced the reactivation of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) office in Port Sudan and anticipated the shipment of new aid supplies by sea, expected to arrive on March 20.
The presidency of the meeting was then handed over to Deputy Minister Cirielli who, after recalling several important development initiatives in Africa, launched consultations with the CNCS in preparation for the upcoming Coopera – National Conference on Development Cooperation, the national public conference on development cooperation to be held in Rome in May.
In his remarks, the Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Marco Riccardo Rusconi, addressed the issue of simplifying procedures and delegating management activities to overseas offices.
