Azerbaijan represented at the meeting of the Steering Committee of the “Rome Process”
On January 27, 2026, the Steering Committee of the “Rome Process” was held in Rome, Italy. Azerbaijan was represented at the session by the Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Elshad Iskandarov.
The meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) under the co-chairmanship of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic and MFAIC.
The opening speech was delivered by the Deputy Secretary General of the MFAIC, Ambassador Carlo Lo Cascio. He noted that the “Rome Process” operates in 3 areas (immigration and security, economy and development, climate and energy). The Deputy Secretary General, noting that 30 countries, 18 international organizations and 3 observers have already joined the Process, welcomed the new members Azerbaijan, Sweden and the UN Environment Program and expressed gratitude for their support.
Then, Roberto Storaci from the Office of the Prime Minister's Diplomatic Advisor, highlighted that the “Rome Process” complements the Mattei Plan in Africa, and its goal is mainly to educate communities as a solution-oriented initiative.
Afterwards, 13 selected projects were presented by the chairs of the 3 working groups. The adopted projects cover strategic sectors such as energy, vocational training, sustainable agricultural supply chains, strengthening local immigration management capacities and sustainability. The projects were selected based on their development levels, consensus among beneficiary countries and their ability to attract additional financing in line with the principles of the Mattei Plan.
After the presentations of the working groups, open discussions began and the floor was first given to Elshad Iskandarov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. Ambassador Iskandarov made a comprehensive presentation on the “Baku Climate and Peace Action Hub” (Baku Hub), providing information on the background to the initiative, its objectives and its agenda for 2026. He also highlighted the synergy and added value of the “Baku Hub” with the “Rome Process” in its cooperation aimed at addressing the root causes of instability and irregular migration, including climate-related factors.
The meeting confirmed the importance of the “Rome Process Mattei Plan Financing Facility”, established by Italy together with the African Development Bank and the United Arab Emirates, as a means of co-financing the initiatives.
During the open discussions, representatives of Türkiye, Egypt, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the European Commission, the World Bank, and the European Investment Bank made speeches, reaffirming the effectiveness of the “Rome Process” and noting that they have witnessed the projects implemented within this framework leading to tangible results.
It should be noted that the “Rome Process” is a follow-up to the Conference on Development and Immigration, convened by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome in July 2023, which promotes a holistic and cooperative approach to immigration, addressing its root causes, combating the exploitation of immigrants, and protecting refugees and vulnerable migrants along migration routes, covering countries of origin, transit, and destination.
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