«A port system that includes Trieste and Koper (Koper, Slovenia) that strengthens reception capacities and encourages exports. The terminal is Trieste, Koper could be the twin that strengthens the system." This solution was outlined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani during a press conference with his Slovenian counterpart, Tone Kajzer, in Nova Gorica (Slovenia). Minister Kajzar echoed this, confirming what Tajani said: "Our interest - said the Slovenian minister - is to collaborate organically between our ports".
In the background is the Imec, the infrastructure project officially presented in September 2023 during the G20 summit in New Delhi. The goal is to connect three of the most dynamic economic areas on the planet - India, the Middle East and Europe - to promote trade, energy and digital integration. The northern corridor would connect the Middle East to Europe via a combination of railway lines, road and port networks, crossing the countries of the Arabian Peninsula (such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) and then flowing into the Mediterranean. The port of Trieste has the characteristics to conquer a space.
Also at the center of the meeting was the situation on the border between Italy and Slovenia, characterized by the maintenance of fixed police controls, as a temporary derogation from the free movement regime of the Schengen agreement. "Italy - said Tajani - reflects positively on the possibility of replacing, at the end of the extension, the suspension of Schengen" on the border between Italy and Slovenia "with alternative agreed measures that guarantee security and the fight against irregular immigration". «I have already spoken about it with Piantedosi», added the head of the Farnesina. A mixed collaboration is thought of as "on the border with France, with Italian and French policemen". Kajzer spoke of the border as "a space for cooperation and new opportunities." The extension expires on December 18th.
In the morning Tajani spoke in Trieste at the Annual Forum of the South East Europe Observatory, established by the Einaudi Foundation. «I appreciated the proposals of the South East Europe Observatory regarding a less bureaucratic model of the accession process of the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, ed.) to the European Union - he said -. A precious suggestion that I share." In general, the minister reiterated that the Western Balkan countries "are European" and "we must let them join the European Union as soon as possible". In this sense, however, «Europe must not have a hostile attitude: in the accession procedures we must be rigorous but not obstructive. If we delay with a bureaucratic attitude we risk losing the Balkans politically because there are different interests between Russia, China and the Arab countries. For Italy - Tajani highlighted - it is a political priority."
Responding on the sidelines of the meeting to a question about the state funeral for Ratko Mladic, the head of the Farnesina clarified: «We are always convinced that Serbia must be a future part of the European Union, even if there are mistakes, choices that we do not agree with, but they certainly cannot be irreparable conditions for joining the European Union». Regarding Mladic's funeral, he continued, "we didn't say anything", however "the Serbian authorities didn't go there, it's a choice that was made, it doesn't seem exciting to me, perhaps it could have been avoided, but we look at the progress that Serbia must make" to enter Europe.
