The UAE and Italy have announced that they will be elevating their relations to the level of a strategic partnership. This announcement was made during a meeting between the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi.
UAE and Italy signed a “Declaration of Intent” on enhancing cooperation within the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) and climate action, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on energy transition projects and sustainability initiatives between ADNOC and the Italian energy group Eni.
Why UAE and Italy signed the MoU
The focus of the MoU is to strengthen cooperation in the field of emissions reduction, new energy technologies, and low-carbon solutions. The partnership aims to enhance long-term strategic ties between the two countries, boost energy security, and accelerate low-carbon economic and industrial growth.
Areas of cooperation between UAE and Italy will include reducing carbon emissions, with a particular focus on carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies, enhancing energy efficiency, joint investment in green hydrogen, and renewable and clean energy.
The declaration of promoting relations to a strategic partnership reads, “The UAE and Italy share common goals, including achieving sustainable development and economic growth, strengthening cooperation with the international community, prosperity and stability, and traditional values of peace, tolerance, human fraternity, coexistence, dialogue, and openness.”
The strategic partnership will enable the two countries to expand and deepen cooperation in areas of mutual strategic interest, including political, diplomatic, international, economic and trade cooperation, healthcare, sustainable development, food and water security, cooperation in industry and advanced technology, defence and climate change, renewable energy and clean technologies, energy security and transition, education, culture, people-to-people exchanges, sports, and other vital areas.
This partnership is significant as it highlights Italy’s increasing importance in the region. The meetings in the UAE also included discussions on boosting energy security and enhancing energy efficiency, which are crucial issues for both countries.
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