Tajani Met with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen at the Foreign Ministry today. The meeting confirmed the excellent state of bilateral relations, supported by intense political dialogue and solid economic ties. In 2025 trade between the two countries reached €58 billion, a 6% increase over the previous year.

The two Ministers expressed their desire to further strengthen trade and mutual investment, highlighting that the presence of over 500 Italian companies in the Netherlands and the significant contribution of foreign direct investment are the foundation of the solidity and growth of bilateral trade.

Ample space was devoted to key European issues. Ministers Tajani and Berendsen agreed on the need to boost European competitiveness by strengthening the single market and providing greater support for digital transformation, also highlighting the strategic role of artificial intelligence for innovation and Europe's technological autonomy. The two Ministers reaffirmed that the EU's enlargement process needs to be based on the principle of merit, avoiding unjustified acceleration, and noted significant convergence on the external dimension of immigration policies and the fight against international drug trafficking. During the meeting the strategic importance of critical minerals for Europe's economic and industrial security was also emphasized.

With specific reference to key international issues, there was full agreement on support for Ukraine. The two Ministers expressed severe concern about the escalating tensions in the Middle East, calling for a return to dialogue and full implementation of the ceasefire agreements. They also highlighted the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and examined multinational initiatives to secure maritime routes. The need to ensure humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and relaunch a credible political path toward a two-State solution was reaffirmed. With regard to Lebanon, the two Ministers agreed on the urgency of restoring the ceasefire and the importance of supporting the institutions and the Lebanese Armed Forces in their stabilization role, encouraging dialogue between the parties to promote a lasting solution to the crisis.

The two Ministers finally agreed to hold the next meeting of the Vanvitelli Roundtable in October of this year - a significant opportunity for experts and research centres to discuss issues of political and strategic interest, economic policy, and technological and trade relations between the two countries.