European Commission/Eurofocus on Defence, Mediterranean and Housing. Appointment in Rome on October 22nd

The new one European Commission was presented in recent weeks, and while waiting for the parliamentary hearings, the representations in Italy of the Commission and the European Parliament, together with Eurofocus of Adnkronos, have organized a conference to discuss the three new dossiers identified by President Ursula von der Leyen for the his second mandate: Defence, Mediterranean and Housing. On 22 October at 3pm – in the Esperienza Europa David Sassoli spaces in Piazza Venezia 6 in Rome – institutions, experts and associations will discuss these three key themes.

The opening of the proceedings will be entrusted to Elena Grech, acting head of the Representation in Italy of the European Commission. Fabio Insenga and Giorgio Rutelli, deputy directors of Adnkronos, will coordinate the discussion and moderate the guests’ interventions.

Defense: strategic autonomy and military investments

The first topic covered will be defense, with particular attention to the strengthening of European strategic autonomy and the creation of a common defense policy among member states. The Draghi report underlined the need to increase investments in the military sector and improve coordination between European nations, especially in a global context of growing tensions. The discussion will feature Alessandro Politi, director of the NATO Defense College Foundation, and Roberta Pinotti, former Italian Defense Minister.

Mediterranean: investments and international cooperation

The focus will then shift to the Mediterranean, a region considered to be of strategic importance for Europe. The discussion will address issues related to investment and economic partnerships with North Africa and the Middle East, with the aim of promoting stability, economic growth and job creation. Other central themes will include security and the management of migratory flows. Participants in this segment will be Nello Musumeci, minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, and Marco Ricceri, general secretary of Eurispes. This part of the meeting aims to underline the centrality of the Mediterranean as a hub for commercial exchanges and connections in the field of energy and data.

Housing: solutions for the housing crisis

The conference will conclude with a focus on housing, an increasingly pressing problem for many European cities. Rising housing costs and a shortage of affordable homes are creating a housing emergency that requires common solutions at European level. Participants will discuss the importance of promoting policies for sustainable construction, social inclusion and urban redevelopment. Lucia Albano, undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Federica Brancaccio, president of the National Association of Building Contractors (ANCE) will be present. The session will discuss how to reduce regional disparities in terms of urban development, in particular between growing areas and those subject to demographic decline.

Event objectives

The meeting aims to stimulate concrete reflection on the challenges that the European Union must face to become more competitive and united. With the focus on defence, the Mediterranean and housing, the objective is to promote a common vision and concrete solutions that can respond to the current needs of the Union and its citizens. The participants, experts and institutional representatives, will provide an important contribution to defining the priorities on which the European Commission will have to focus in the coming years.