Ministero degli Affari Esteri ITALY S MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT

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2 Ministero degli Affari Esteri ITALY S MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT

3 Text by Cristiano Musillo PHOTOGRAPHS: ANSA, NATO, UN Graphic Layout by Stefania Federici

4 Italy s commitment to the multilateral system is a crucial and internationally acknowledged segment of our foreign policy to which our financial and human contributions to international organisations bear ample witness. This following is intended as a brief and accessible summary of Italy s activities within the framework of the United Nations, the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance, and of development cooperation interventions within the wider context of international organisation strategies and the pursuit of the Millennium Goals. Its scope is to provide the media and the diplomatic-consular network with an instrument by which to facilitate public diplomacy efforts. Maurizio Massari Head of the Press and Information Service

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6 CONTENTS ITALY IN THE UNITED NATIONS 9 ITALY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 15 ITALY IN THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE 19 MULTILATERALISM AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION 22 ITALIANS IN TOP INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION POSTS 26

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8 Multilateralism as generated through the United Nations, the highest authority capable of granting political legitimacy to efforts aimed at confronting contemporary global challenges has always been a primary concern for Italian foreign policy. Widespread peace and security, political stability and economic growth, protection of human rights and dignity, and the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction all require the effective and efficient cooperation of governments within the various multilateral forums. This has spurred Italy to shoulder ever-increasing national responsibility for addressing major European and international political concerns ranging from the Balkans to Afghanistan. With its participation in numerous peacekeeping operations, which brought the number of troops deployed in 2008 in various crisis scenarios to approximately 9,000, Italy has become a producer of security and stability. Its efforts are distinguished for the importance they place on humanitarian concerns and on solutions embraceable by countries whose difficulties are often rooted in underdevelopment and a lack of dialogue between cultures and religions. 7

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10 ITALY IN THE UNITED NATIONS For the sixth time in the organisation s history, in 2007 Italy held a 2-year non-permanent seat on the Security Council, the United Nations body authorised in matters of peacekeeping and international security, whose ten non-permanent members sit alongside five permanent members with veto power. When it took its seat in January 2007, Italy became the European country that had had the most Security Council mandates six ahead of Holland, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Norway and Spain. 9

11 Bearing witness to our interest in and engagement on the world s many crisis scenarios, Italy was Security Council coordinator for Afghanistan and is one of the most active members on the theme of Security Council reform. Indeed, in keeping with its multilateral vocation, Italy believes that in order to confront the new challenges and threats to international peace and security, the United Nations needs to be more representative of a global context in which a growing number of countries and other players such as international and regional organisations, are capable of shouldering increased responsibility. Italy s objective is a Council reform that all Members can accept and that strengthens its legitimacy and credibility around the world. One of the principles on which the reform process must hinge lies in the democratic representation of its Members, and the responsibility associated with it. Any country, therefore, aspiring to become a Council member must submit to legitimate election and is responsible for its actions to the remaining country members. That is why Italy is opposed to adding new permanent seats, feeling this would only lead to the creation of new privileged positions that the current international situation does not justify. Beginning with the ministerial meeting held in Rome on 5 February 2009, which brought together approximately 80 countries to discuss the general principles that will guide Security Council reforms, and the recent launch in New York of intergovernmental negotiations, Italy s approach to this new phase of the reform process is open and flexible, and assumes that meaningful progress can only be made if all other members follow suit. Among our nation s most recently rewarded efforts within the context of the United Nations was the adoption of Resolution 62/149 against the death penalty [1], which Italy had strongly supported for years. The resolution urged governments that still apply the death penalty to reduce its use, along with the number of crimes for which it is applicable. It also called a moratorium on capital executions, with a view to the eventual 10

12 abolition of the death penalty, and urged governments that had abolished them not to reintroduce them. In December 2008, the General Assembly confirmed the favourable vote it had expressed in 2007 on Resolution 63/168, and saw the number of supporter countries rise to

13 Italy contributes 5% to the organisation s ordinary peacekeeping budget, and is one of its major donors, ranking sixth among the 192 United Nations members [2], hosting a UN humanitarian aid depot and logistics base for peace operations in Brindisi and the UN Staff College in Turin. Since 2006, Italy has been the top Western country for its number of Blue Helmets engaged in missions that include the UNIFIL mission operating in Southern Lebanon, where Italy s contingent is the largest (over 2500 units). In addition to being a member of many UN bodies [3], Italy currently boasts the presence of Italian personnel in a variety of senior posts in its major international agencies. Antonio Cassese is President of the Lebanon Tribunal; Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UNODC, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and Director General of the UN Office in Vienna; Filippo Grandi, Deputy Commissioner General of UNWRA, the UN agency created in 1948 with the task of assisting Palestinian refugees; Claudio Graziano, Commander of the UNIFIL mission; Mauro Politi and Cuno Tarfusser, judges on the International Criminal Court; Fausto Pocar, Permanent Judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia; Romano Prodi leads the UN-African Union Panel on Peacekeeping in Africa; and Lamberto Zannier, the Secretary General s Special Representative in Kosovo. [1] The General Assembly with 104 votes in favour, 54 against and 29 abstaining adopted resolution 62/149 on 18 December [2] In 2007, Italy contributed 99 million euro to the ordinary budget, as well as 274 million euro to UN peacekeeping missions, along with 17 million euro to the budgets of international tribunals. Contributions in 2008 included 83 million euro to the ordinary budget and 246 million euro for peace operations, while our contribution to international tribunals has amounted to 12 million euro. [3] Executive Board of UNESCO, IOL and WMO; Board of FAO and WFP; Board of Directors of UNAIDS and the Global Fund in the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria; Board of ICAO, ITU and IMO; Executive Board of IFAD; Human Rights Council; UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; UN Commission on International Law; Commission on International Public Administration; Planning and Coordination Committee; Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; Commission on Narcotic Drugs; Executive Board of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO); Executive Board of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC); Postal Operators Council (POC) of the UPU. 12

14 PERSONNEL CONTRIBUTIONS TO UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS 13

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16 ITALY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Italy contributes 13% of the total EU budget (15 billion euro), ranking third behind Germany (23 billion/19.74%) and France (18 billion/15.71%), and ahead of the UK (14 billion/12.23%) and Spain (11 billion/9.25%). Italy hosts the European Food Security Authority in Parma, the European Foundation for Professional Training in Turin, The European School in Varese and the Common Research Centre in Ispra. Ettore Sequi is European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan; Piero Fassino is the EU Special Envoy for Burma/Myanmar; and Dario Scannapieco is Vice President of the European Investment Bank. Particularly important is Italy s participation in European Security and Defence missions. Our country deploys a total of approximately 9,000 men and women in EU, NATO and UN multinational, national and bilateral assistance missions. Italy s contribution to the EULEX Kosovo civilian mission makes up one of its largest contingents 172 units and includes Carabinieri, police, customs and corrections officers, magistrates and other experts. Approximately 240 of the EUFOR Althea mission s approximately 2,100 troops in Bosnia Herzegovina are Italian, and the mission is under the command of General Stefano Castagnotto. Italy maintains 17 units in the civilian EUPM mission in Bosnia (previously led by Brigadier General CC Vincenzo Coppola). 15

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18 Italy has made 7 armoured transport vehicles and 41 personnel available for the initial phase of the EUMM Georgia mission (in addition to several units from a logistics team on-site for the first two weeks), for a total of 36 military units and 5 civilians (including the political advisor to the Head of Mission). Four Italians are currently engaged in the EUBAM mission at the Rafah Crossing in the Gaza Strip, formerly under the command of General Pietro Pistolese. Italy has sent 2 experts, respectively from the Ministry of the Interior and the Corrections Administration, to the EUPOL COPPS police mission in the Palestinian Territories. The EUPOL Afghanistan mission, in which 23 states participate, is comprised of 185 officials, 60 of whom are civilian experts. Italy s contribution of 16 units (among which Deputy Head of Mission Colonel Umberto Rocca) includes Carabinieri, customs police and other experts, and is among the top participants. Italy s contribution to the EUFOR CIAD/Central African Republic consisted of 4 officers working in the force s General Headquarters and a field hospital where approximately 100 military doctors and paramedical personnel were present. The EU s EUPOL Democratic Republic of Congo mission includes 4 Italian Carabinieri. Our country also contributes with its frigate Maestrale to the Atalanta counter-piracy mission along the Somali coast. 17

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20 ITALY IN THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE One of NATO s two regional operational command headquarters is located in Naples. Operating in Italy at sub-regional (tactical) level, are a maritime command (Naples) as well as combined stationary and mobile air operations centres, both located at Poggio Renatico. The Undersea Research Centre located in La Spezia is a major NATO institution that answers to the Norfolk Command in the United States. Finally, the NATO Defence College has been in Rome since 1966, and is the most important professional training and refreshment centre for the officers of Atlantic Alliance member and partner countries. Italy is the sixth largest contributor to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and leads the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Herat. Since 2002 our country has been making a major contribution to this mission, and was in command of it from 2005 to Italy s current contribution, which stands at approximately 2800 units, is subdivided between Kabul (approximately 600), the Western provinces of Herat and Farah (Forward Support Base) and the district of Mala Murghab (Forward Operating Base), and further reinforcements are planned. Second only to Afghanistan, the KFOR mission in Kosovo is the most important NATO peacekeeping mission currently under way, in terms of number of troops (15,200) and participation of countries (a total of 33, of which 25 are NATO members and 8 non-members). The Italian KFOR contingent has more than 2,100 units, 260 of which are Carabinieri participating within the framework of a Multinational Specialised Unit (MSU). Some of these will gradually be relocated to police divisions in Europe s EULEX mission. Italy holds the command of the KFOR Western Task Force, whose troops come from five countries: Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia and Spain and which makes a high-level contribution in terms of the human resources it dedicates to KSF training (approximately 40 units). 19

21 Italy is currently the largest supporter of the NATO training mission in Iraq (NTM-I). We handled the extension of the mission to include Iraqi national police through the well-established practise of training trainers and, in October 2008, completed the deployment in Iraq of a Carabinieri contingent tasked with training activities. Significant also was the Alliance s decision, for the period November-December 2008, to employ Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) to protect convoys of WFP aid and, more in general, in support of counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, assigning its command to Italian Admiral Gumiero and deploying Italian naval destroyer Durand de la Penne in the operation. Italy holds various top positions in the Atlantic Alliance. Claudio Bisogniero has been Deputy Secretary General since 2007; Giampaolo Di Paola took over the function of Chairman of the Military Committee in June 2008; Giuseppe Emilio Gay is commander of the NATO KFOR contingent, while Fernando Gentilini was appointed NATO Secretary General Representative in Afghanistan in May Marco Bertolini is ISAF Chief of Staff, Sabato Errico and Rosario Castellano respectively command NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo and ISAF Regional Command West. 20

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23 MULTILATERALISM AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION One of the most important instruments for effective development cooperation is multilateralism, as it reduces transnational costs, increases the number of scale economies and facilitates achievement of high levels of technical skill. The financial support Italy ensures to international organisations falls within the strategic context outlined by the international community and major world conferences in the Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by the end of UN Agencies enjoy neutral and universal status, which makes them particularly appropriate to work in crisis and pre-conflict situations, humanitarian emergencies and complex sectors such as good governance, human and legal rights protection, democratic processes and the defence of vulnerable groups and those most exposed to exclusion. The distribution of the resources earmarked for these organisations is determined annually according to Italian Cooperation planning guidelines, the Millennium Goals, complementarity with bilateral aid, their specific mandates, and the effectiveness, impact and cohesiveness of their interventions. Collaboration with the World Bank, for instance, is precious toward this latter end, precisely as a result of its greater capacity to gather resources around the international community s shared goals. The funds earmarked in 2008 per multilateral development cooperation amounted to 514,720,560.41euro. International organisations operate in the following main sectors: 22

24 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY, FAO, IFAD, WFP, CIHEAM, BIOVERSITY, and CGIAR; HEALTH, with contributions going to WHO and the Global Fund for the fight against pandemics and the eradication of polio, zoonotic diseases and support for maternal/infant care; EDUCATION, funding goes predominantly to the Education for All/Fast Track Initiative (EFA/FTI); GOOD GOVERNANCE, major contributions go to the UNDP, the main UN organisation for the coordination and planning of technical cooperation. Other recipient organisations include UNODC, UNICRI, OHCHR, ECLA and the Peace Building Fund; TRAINING, with voluntary contributions to ILO, IDLO, IMO, UNDESA, UNSSC, UNV and IILA; ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES, with funding going to UNEP, IUCN e UNCCD, using funds also from the Ministry of the Environment s Fund for Sustainable Development. Specific projects are also carried out through FAO and UN-HABITAT and special attention goes to the struggle against urban poverty (City Alliance and UN-HABITAT); HUMANITARIAN AID, contributions are made, in light of the principles of Good Humanitarian Donorship, the super partes role of international organisations and their capacity for rapid coordination, to UNHCR, CICR, IFRC, OCHA, WFP, UNRWA, UNICEF, WTO, FAO, IOM, UNFPA and UNDP, through bilateral emergency funds and voluntary contributions; GENDER EQUALITY AND MINORS, the most important crossover priorities indicated in Italian Cooperation s three-year plan; UNICEF is Italy s main international reference point in issues involving minors. 23

25 The following table shows the data relative to Italian contributions to UN Agencies in 2008, and is followed by a bar chart illustrating sector distribution. Italy s presence takes on special importance in international hubs such as those of Rome for agriculture, Turin for training, Brindisi for logistics and Trieste for scientific research. SECTOR AGRICULTURE AND FOODSECURITY HEALTH EDUCATION GOOD GOVERNANCE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES HUMANITARIAN AID GENDER EQUALITY AND MINORS CONTRIBUTION , , , , , , , ,44 RECIPIENT ORGANISATIONS FAO, IFAD, WFP, CIHEAM, BIOVERSITY, CGIAR WHO, UNAIDS WB (EFA-FTI), UNESCO UNDP, UNODC, UNICRI, ECLA, PEACEBUILDING FUND, DEMOCRACY FUND, OHCHR, IPS, ITC, WHO, CIS, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNOPS ILO, IDLO, IMO, UNDESA, UNSSC, UNV, IILA, ICCROM, ICGEB, GLOBAL COMPACT, WIPO, U. LATINA, UNITAR UNEP, IUCN, UNCCD, UN-HABITAT, GLOBAL MECH, WMO, OSS, WORLD TOURISM ORG UNHCR, ICRC, IFRC, OCHA, UNRWA, IOM, UNFPA, PAHO, UN-CERF UNIFEM, UNICEF, INSTRAW TOTAL ,41 24

26 Moreover, the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has funded the UN Humanitarian Resources Depot (UNHRD) in Brindisi since The depot is managed by the World Food Program (WFP) in collaboration with other UN partners such as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and supports the bilateral transport and procurements services of the Directorate itself. Foodstuffs, medicines and other emergency supplies are stored at the depot and are ready to be dispatched to crisis areas by sea and air within 48 hours notice. The efficiency of the Brindisi facility has ensured the success of numerous humanitarian and emergency interventions. In 2008 alone operations were triggered in response to Cyclone Nargis in Burma/Myanmar, the humanitarian crisis in Georgia, the earthquake in the Chinese province of Sichuan and the crisis in the Gaza Strip. 25

27 ITALIANS IN TOP INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION POSTS UNITED NATIONS Antonio Cassese, President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of UNODC and Director General of the UN Office in Vienna Filippo Grandi, Deputy Commissioner General of UNWRA Claudio Graziano, Commander of UNIFIL in Lebanon Fausto Pocar, Permanent Judge on the International Criminal Court for Former Yugoslavia Mauro Politi, Judge on the International Criminal Court Romano Prodi, Coordinator of the UN-African Union Panel on Peacekeeping in Africa Cuno Tarfusser, Judge on the International Criminal Court Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General s Special Representative in Kosovo 26

28 EUROPEAN UNION Stefano Castagnotto, Commander EUFOR Althea in Bosnia Herzegovina Piero Fassino, Special Envoy for Burma/Myanmar Dario Scannapieco, Vice President of the European Investment Bank Ettore Sequi, Special EU Representative for Afghanistan NATO Marco Bertolini, ISAF Chief of Staff Claudio Bisogniero, Deputy Secretary General Rosario Castellano, Commander Regional Command West ISAF Giampaolo Di Paola, Military Committee Chairman Sabato Errico, Commander NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo Giuseppe Emilio Gay, Commander KFOR contingent Fernando Gentilini, Secretary General s Representative in Afghanistan OCSE Pier Carlo Padoan, Deputy Secretary 27

29 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press and Information Service tel May

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