The Venice Seminar is the annual communications event that that Embassy of italy in London organises in Venice in collaboration with high-calibre Italian companies such as CNH Industrial, ENI, Leonardo, Intesa Sanpaolo, Trenitalia, Atlantia, Snam, Algebris and Legance. It is the most important public-diplomacy event of the year for the Italian diplomatic network in the UK.
The Seminar is an opportunity for representatives of the Italian government and business world to meet journalists from the major British news outlets and present Italy’s achievements in various fields, primarily foreign policy and the economy. The talks are informal and reserved and follow the Chatham House Rule.
The 27th Venice Seminar took place on 27-28 January 2023 at the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista for all the sessions exceptt he first, which was held on a dedicated Frecciarossa train, provided by Trenitalia to allow the delegates to experience sustainable mobility, a demonstration of the unity of the country and a tool for growth and wellbeing.
The Seminar was attended by 24 journalists from British outlets, including the Financial Times, the Times, the Independent, the Guardian, the Observer, the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail, the Evening Standard, Reuters, the Economist, BBC News, Bloomberg and the i) and eight Italian correspondents, from la Repubblica, Mediaset, Sky TG 24, Corriere della Sera, Rai, il Giorno and il Sole 24 Ore).
Even after so many years, appetite for an initiative of this sort remains high. The informal, open discussion gives the journalists access to information directly from high-profile government figures and business leaders on current political, economic and social affairs in Italy. This year there were addresses by the heads of the sponsoring companies as well as Francesco Lollobrigida, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests.
The focus of the Seminar this year was:
- The changing international geopolitical context (opening session on the Frecciarossa train, entitled “Global order after covid and the Ukraine war: how the international geopolitical context is changing and the challenges for Italy, the UK and the EU“);
- Rome’s candidacy as host city for EXPO 2030 (opening session on 28 January, entitled “Expo – an Italian challenge“;
- The main consequences of the invation of Ukraine a year later (a session entitled “Growth, recession and prices. Prospects for Italy in 2023“).
At the end of the Seminar, the Italian Ambassador to the UK, Inigo Lambertini, read out a message from Antonio Tajani, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
As in previous years, the Seminar included a number of side events and visits during which participants explored niche aspects of Venetian history and culture and noteworthy projects focusing on Venice. These events provide opportunities for networking and direct discussion between the speakers, sponsors and journalists.