Italy pushes forward on IMEC as EU prepares for key talks in India
Rome: A recent Rome–Abu Dhabi strategic agreement on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, along with several other economic deals, underlines Italy’s commitment. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is hosting UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed in Rome – a meeting seen as pivotal for Italy’s role in the project
Global trade shifts. As global trade routes shift, Italy is positioning itself at the heart of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) – one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects of the decade.
On Sunday, Corriere della Sera reported that Meloni considers both countries as “crucial” in the project, and they “are ready to work together”. With competition heating up against France, Rome faces mounting pressure to move quickly or risk losing strategic influence.
Why it matters. IMEC is designed to link India with Europe via the Middle East, connecting key European ports like Trieste and Haifa with the Atlantic region.
Seen as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the project places Italy at a strategic crossroads in the evolving global economy.
Italy’s growing role. The UAE has committed to investing €40 billion in Italy – a development hailed by Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata as “a truly extraordinary result for our Nation.”
In a press statement, Terzi emphasised that this investment deepens Italy’s strategic partnership with the Gulf, reinforcing collaboration across key sectors, including energy, cybersecurity, and infrastructure.
“It is impossible not to recognise the foresight of initiatives where Italy, under the Meloni government, is at the forefront – such as the Mattei Plan for Africa or the IMEC corridor. Italy and the UAE will fully cooperate on these projects,” he stated.
Geopolitics and urgency. The Italian government is expected to soon appoint a special envoy for IMEC – a role already filled by France’s Gérard Mestrallet for over a year.
Paris has actively advanced discussions with India and begun infrastructure adjustments in Marseille, raising concerns in Rome about falling behind.
Paolo Formentini, Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Italy’s Chamber of Deputies, warned, “Without a more decisive approach, we risk losing a share of European trade flows, potentially in favour of Marseille.”
Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions – such as the Israel-Gaza war affecting IMEC’s route through Haifa – underscore the corridor’s complexity. Italian President Sergio Mattarella, in his meeting with bin Zayed, reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to regional stability, stressing the importance of a two-state solution for lasting peace.
