Rome, Italy – A significant step towards bolstering connectivity and strengthening international partnerships has been taken with the launch of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Italian Parliament. This initiative, which garnered support from over forty Italian Members of Parliament (MPs), aims to embed parliamentary diplomacy into the IMEC framework, fostering deeper trade and political relations between India, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and Europe.
The IMEC, launched at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, is a multi-modal corridor that seeks to integrate Asia, the Middle East, and Europe through a network of ports, railways, and maritime routes. It is envisioned as a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative, offering a collaborative model for trade and infrastructure development. The project has gained renewed attention as a way to bypass the Houthi blockade and future-proof the India-Europe-US supply chain, avoiding the Suez Canal.
The IMEC Parliamentary Friendship Group was launched on Tuesday at the Italian Parliament, spearheaded by Paolo Formentini, Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Antonio Giordano. Both have been strong proponents of the IMEC initiative. The group aims to create a space for dialogue and cohesion, driving interaction essential for an international initiative like IMEC.
Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, President of the EU Affairs Committee, emphasized the importance of the group in strengthening relations between Rome and New Delhi. He sees IMEC as a tool capable of reinforcing connections among participating countries, starting in India, crossing the Gulf, and entering the Mediterranean through Israel.
The launch of the Friendship Group signals a cross-party alignment in Rome, strong diplomatic attention, and a growing role for parliamentary diplomacy in Italy's foreign policy. The presentation of the group brought together MPs from various parties and diplomats from Cyprus, France, India, Egypt, the U.S., Jordan, and Germany, underscoring IMEC's significance as a geopolitical platform shaping energy, maritime security, and Euro-Indo-Mediterranean cooperation.
Italy is taking decisive steps to enhance its position in the IMEC. The government is preparing to appoint a Special Envoy to oversee and advance its interests within this strategic project, potentially reshaping global trade routes and regional stability. Trieste is emerging as Italy's key hub for IMEC, boasting strong cargo-handling capabilities and direct integration into the Central European supply chain.
Italy's Special Envoy for IMEC, Francesco Maria Talò, has emphasized that the initiative should be understood as a "connectivity network" rather than a simple corridor. He underlined the need to translate IMEC into practical steps, focusing on addressing logistics asymmetries, enabling digital interoperability, and mobilizing long-term capital. The project is designed as a network of interoperable projects including logistics, digital and energy, not a single linear corridor.
The IMEC initiative represents a significant step towards enhanced economic cooperation between India, the Middle East, and Europe. As the project develops, it has the potential to reshape trade routes, boost economic growth and strengthen diplomatic ties across these regions.
