Address by the Ambassador of Italy, H.E. Alfredo M. Durante Mangoni, to mark the National Day of the Italian Republic, 2 June
Dear Friends, readers of Nine O’Clock,
It is a great honour and pleasure to address you on the celebration of the 79th Anniversary of the establishment of the Italian Republic.
This anniversary reminds us of the choice made by the Italian people, through a Referendum held on June 2nd 1946, to establish a Republic for Italy freed from fascism and the ruins of the war.
At the same time, it is a solemn occasion to reaffirm the path taken by Italy in 1946, anchored in democratic values and principles: popular sovereignty, freedom of expression and of business, rule of law, social equality and solidarity. A choice that also guides our Country’s commitment at international level. It is a calling that sees Italy cooperating with Romania, within the common membership in the European Union, aimed at building an institutional system which is adequate to current and future challenges; and to complete as well the reunification of Europe, from the Western Balkans to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, whose upcoming accession is not a mere consequence of the war of aggression to Ukraine by the Russian Federation, but is a clear outcome of Romania joining the European Union.
As the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella recalled on the occasion of Europe Day: “Only through creative efforts proportionate to the impending dangers can we preserve the idea of a strong, just and peaceful Europe – a beacon of hope for future generations”.
Our Head of State, in his message of congratulations to the new President Nicuşor Dan, hailed the latter’s election as a development of great significance not only for Romania but also for the further advancement of the European integration. He added that, to achieve this common purpose, a remarkable contribution may be given by the strengthening of the Strategic Partnership between Italy and Romania – a bond already deep and strong, rooted in the Latin heritage of our languages and cultures, in the dense and fruitful relations between our civil societies, in the membership in the Atlantic Alliance and a multilateral system ruled by international law.
Our bilateral relations are experiencing an outstanding dynamism. The political dialogue between the two Countries intensified last year, both through the Intergovernmental Summit and the signing of the Joint Political Declaration at the Prime Ministers’ level, accompanied by the Economic Forum between the two business communities, as well as through the official visit to Bucharest of the President of the Republic. We hope that President Dan may be able to take part in the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference next 10-11 July in Rome, alongside other international leaders, and that this occasion may also offer the opportunity for a high-level meeting with the Italian Authorities.
Italy and Romania are sister nations, united by the shared heritage of the common Roman civilization. I say this sincerely to our Romanian friends: we belong to your identity, and you are part of ours. Two messages stem from this: first, the depth of our bilateral ties is not a matter of strategic convenience, but it is a genuine privileged relation, founded on common roots and nurtured by a network of human and social connections, reflected in two communities – the Romanian diaspora in Italy and the Italian community in Romania – both perfectly integrated and drivers of development in each other’s Country, without any form of discrimination. The second message is that Italy has always stood by Romania and will continue to do so.
Such favorable conditions for the development of the strategic partnership – the first of this kind concluded by Romania with a Western country – require greater and more demanding duties: to serve our common interests. In this context, we are ready to resume with the next Government some concrete proposals submitted to the outgoing Government. I also recall Italy’s commitment to contributing to the comprehensive security of the Atlantic Alliance, particularly on the South-Eastern flank. Currently, the fourth Italian Air Policing mission in Romania is underway, with the presence of 4 Eurofighter Typhoons supported by over 180 staff members of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana. Equally important is Romania’s contribution to NATO and EU’s defense and security, notably through its leadership of the EU mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the role Bucharest can play in Europe, with an increased awareness and a strong voice, to contribute to our common goals.
As for the economy, we have the responsibility of fostering a fruitful partnership towards new stages of cooperation between our industrial and entrepreneurial systems, increasingly focused on technology and innovation.
Thanks also to the study on the impact of Italian trade and investments on the Romanian economy, presented last year, you may be aware of the key role played by Italian companies investing in Romania, in key areas for the development and modernisation of the Country, like infrastructures, steel and energy production, including nuclear and natural gas, as well as their ability to develop business models that bring tangible benefits to the communities and territories in which they operate. We live in a new era, which calls us to envision a new way of doing business in Romania, to meet market demands and aligning with the expectations of the civil society and the Romanian authorities alike. We have understood the need to abandon outdated operating models and move towards qualitative approaches that look for talents and to what Romania can offer in the fields of technology and innovation. This shift brings with it challenges, such as the ability to provide products and services with higher added value, to be accompanied by investments in training and workforce skills, with a full awareness of the importance of professional qualifications and know-how in ensuring the quality of production: a cross-sectoral approach that places employees and their development at the heart of doing business. This change of pace is even more essential to keep our economic cooperation vibrant and to foster new partnerships steered to innovation, to develop synergies enabling European public goods and impact investments, capable of generating also social and collective benefits. These partnerships are based on a shared European positioning on key issues that are inherent to respective national interests: strategic autonomy, energy security, the twin green and digital transitions, resilience, cybersecurity and the defence industry. Industrial collaboration in the defence sector is a natural and necessary evolution of the Italian-Romanian economic partnership. Italian defence industry can provide products and services across all five domains such as land, sea, air, cyber and space.
The Embassy and the ICE (Italian Trade Agency) in Bucharest have organised numerous economic diplomacy initiatives, in order to promote the exchange of good practices in various fields. Let me recall those dedicated to anti-money laundering and on financial education, organized in partnership with the National Bank of Romania, and to the training and skills of the workforce, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, both relevant to Romania’s accession to the OECD; or the recent event on Impact Investing, which focused on the role of intermediate bodies and the civil society in spurring sustainable growth through sport and the rule of law. Next month we will host a large mission of Italian companies with a focus on eco-sustainable construction and infrastructure. Moreover, other players of the Italian system, such as the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Confindustria Romania, have been involved in some events.
We have been particularly active in the cultural scene, since cultural relations embody core values and principles of the Euro-Atlantic community. The Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute, in cooperation with the National Museum of Art of Romania, organized an exhibition dedicated to the Romanian gallerist Ileana Sonnabend and her contribution to Italian ‘Arte Povera’; a rich program for the centenary of the famous opera composer Giacomo Puccini, which included a ‘Gala Puccini’ at the Romanian Athenaeum and the premiere of ‘Turandot’ at the National Opera of Iași, in cooperation with Artexim; the fourth edition of the contemporary Film Festival ‘Visuali Italiane’, which toured Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași, Craiova and Sibiu; a comprehensive presentation of Italian fashion within the framework of the ‘Bucharest Fashion Week’; an exhibition on accessible and inclusive Italian design inaugurated at the latest edition of Romanian Design Week. Alongside the classical heritage, in our events we try to convey the energy and inventiveness of contemporary Italy, where tradition and innovative creativity merge. To celebrate the 145th anniversary of bilateral relations, the Embassy presented, in partnership with the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, an exhibition of key diplomatic documents and archives. Inaugurated in Bucharest last November, at the Museum of the National Bank, the exhibition has toured Iași and Timișoara and will open this week in Cluj-Napoca, followed by Craiova in July. We warmly welcome the signing of the Joint Declaration, that took place two weeks ago at the level of State Secretaries for Foreign Affairs, establishing the 2026 Italian-Romanian exchange Year of Culture, with events celebrating Romanian culture in Italy and initiatives dedicated to Italian culture in Romania, whose calendar will be finalized soon.
Before concluding, allow me to extend a few words of regards and sincere thanks.
My first words of gratitude are addressed to our fellow Italians, especially those who – for professional or personal reasons – have chosen to move to Romania, thus strengthening day by day the friendship and the bonds between our Countries. To each of them I extend my heartfelt thanks and a sincere invitation: to always embody the Italian values, culture and know-how! The Italian institutions stand by your side.
A special message of appreciation goes to all the Italian associations and NGOs operating in Romania, whose irreplaceable work strengthens the social fabric in fundamental sectors for the community and the future of this Country, starting with the protection of children.
I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Honorary Consuls of Italy in Arad, Braşov, Cluj-Napoca, Satu Mare, Sibiu and Timişoara for the important role they play in providing assistance and services to Italian citizens outside the constituency of Bucharest and for maintaining fruitful dialogue and cooperative relations with local Authorities.
I also would like to thank all the sponsors of our various initiatives for supporting the joint efforts of Italian Institutions.
Finally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary team of the Embassy and the staff of the Italian institutions in Romania. Their commitment, dedication, and spirit of collaboration across various fields of activity are crucial to the success of our endeavours and to the achievements reached together in promoting Italian interests and fostering relations with Romanian institutions and our partners.
Buona Festa della Repubblica! Trăiască România, viva l’Italia!”
02.06.2025 / H.E. Alfredo M. Durante Mangoni
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