Italy will again place itself at the centre of Middle-East diplomacy next week after Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed to Parliament on 22 July that Rome will host the inaugural meeting of the Global Alliance for a Two-State Solution on 28–29 July. The gathering—co-chaired by Tajani and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan—will welcome ministers and senior officials from more than 40 countries, the UN, and major international organisations. Although the agenda is diplomatic, the operational implications are squarely in the global-mobility space. Delegations must be fast-tracked through Italy’s visa-on-arrival waiver for heads of delegation, while support staff will rely on Italy’s short-stay C-type Schengen visa. The Farnesina has activated a dedicated accreditation portal and instructed Italian consulates to grant 48-hour visa turnarounds for participants. Companies supplying interpretation, event logistics and executive transport are already reporting a surge in demand. Rome’s airports expect VIP flight slots to double during the summit window; border police have set up additional diplomatic channels at Fiumicino and Ciampino. Hotels in the EUR and historic centre are nearing full capacity, prompting travel managers to shift delegations to Florence or Naples with daily rail shuttles. Security coordination will mirror arrangements used for last year’s FAO ministerial. Carabinieri units specialised in international protection will escort convoys and manage perimeter control at the conference venue. Employers with assignees posted in Rome during the same period should anticipate road closures and temporary restrictions in the Foro Italico and Farnesina areas. Beyond the immediate logistics, the summit reinforces Italy’s strategy of hosting high-profile international events to showcase its infrastructure and streamline privileged entry channels. Mobility professionals can expect the temporary visa facilitation scheme to be recycled for future multilateral meetings, offering a useful precedent when coordinating corporate mobility to Italy.
Source: ANSA
