10 July 2023

The first General Affairs Council (GAC) under the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union was held today in Brussels. The priorities of the six-month Presidency and an initial exchange on the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) were the main topics of discussion.

"I stated my full willingness to cooperate, so that the Semester will lead to important results in the interest of Italian and European citizens," Minister Raffaele Fitto explained on the sidelines of the Council. "The European Commission's proposal on the revision of the multiannual budget is a good starting point, yet without forgetting the Italian priorities already presented in the national position paper on Ukraine, migration and flexibility in the use of EU funds. I also highlighted it is crucial to make the EU more competitive, strengthening its strategic autonomy and implementing an ecological transition that ensures the economic and social sustainability of measures."

Minister Fitto reiterated "It is necessary to continue to support Ukraine in a unified manner, and to strengthen the Neighbourhood Policy, ensuring key attention to the external dimension and the fight against irregular migration."