Meeting Between Deputy Minister Radi Naydenov and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic, H.E. Marcello Apicella
20 March 2026 News
On 19 March 2026, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radi Naydenov, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic, H.E. Marcello Apicella.
The parties discussed the excellent bilateral relations, based on shared European values and strategic priorities, as well as on longstanding traditional cultural, political and economic ties.
Deputy Minister Radi Naydenov emphasised the importance of the implementation of European Corridor VIII, noting that it not only contributes to the connectivity between Bulgaria and Italy, but is also of strategic importance for the development of key regions in Southern Europe.
Ambassador Apicella formally presented Italy’s candidature for the position of Director-General of the specialised United Nations agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome for the period 2027 – 2031, expressing hope for achieving unity among EU Member States in supporting and nominating a common candidature, as the FAO has not had a Director-General from Europe since 1975. The Italian Ambassador also presented the advantages of Italy’s candidature to host the new European Union Customs Authority (EUCA) in Rome, where excellent modern facilities for its operations, as well as optimal conditions and social infrastructure for its staff, are available.
For his part, Deputy Minister Naydenov expressed appreciation for the strong cooperation between Bulgaria and Italy not only bilaterally, but also within multilateral frameworks, and called for Italy’s support for Bulgaria’s candidature for membership of the Council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Region C, for the period 2027 – 2030.
The parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to continuing their excellent bilateral cooperation in a spirit of mutual understanding and in the interest of Europe’s prosperity.
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