The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( or
MAE) is the foreign ministry of the government of the Republic of Italy. It is also known as the
Farnesina as a metonym from its headquarters, the
Palazzo della FarnesinaThe Palazzo della Farnesina is an Italian government building located between Monte Mario and the Tiber River in the Foro Italico area in Rome, Italy...
in Rome. It is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs - the current minister is Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata.
History
The first official manifestation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was called
The Secretary of the State of Foreign Affairs for the now defunct
Kingdom of SardiniaThe Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
. The original name was derived from the Albertine Statute that founded the Ministry in 1848. The original location was the
Palazzo della ConsultaThe Palazzo della Consulta is a late Baroque palace in central Rome, Italy, that now houses the Constitutional Court of the Italian Republic...
in Rome, remaining there until 1922.
The first significant
reformReform means to put or change into an improved form or condition; to amend or improve by change of color or removal of faults or abuses, beneficial change, more specifically, reversion to a pure original state, to repair, restore or to correct....
came under the direction of the minister
Carlo SforzaConte Carlo Sforza was an Italian diplomat and anti-Fascist politician.-Biography:Sforza was born at Montignoso ....
who reorganized the Ministry around territorial bases. However, this system was later replaced during Benito Mussolini's fascist regime. During this time the Ministry was housed at
Palazzo ChigiThe Palazzo Chigi is a palace or noble residence in Rome, overlooking the Piazza Colonna and the Via del Corso. It was begun in 1562 by Giacomo della Porta and completed by Carlo Maderno in 1580 for the Aldobrandini family. In 1659 it was purchased by the Chigi family. It was then remodelled by...
; after a brief period in
BrindisiBrindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
durning the war, Cabinet President
Pietro BadoglioPietro Badoglio, 1st Duke of Addis Abeba, 1st Marquess of Sabotino was an Italian soldier and politician...
restored the full services of the Ministry with a ministerial
decreeA decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
on July 15, 1944.
From 1959 the Ministry has been at its current location in
Palazzo della FarnesinaThe Palazzo della Farnesina is an Italian government building located between Monte Mario and the Tiber River in the Foro Italico area in Rome, Italy...
, which together with the Reggia di Caserta is one of the biggest buildings in Italy.
Function
The current role of the MAE are laid out in the laws passed on April 23, 2003 n. 109 which states that the Ministry holds the explicit function of representing and guarding the interests of Italy concerning its political, economic,
socialThe term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
, and cultural relations with the world and its direct relations with other states and international organizations. The ministry represents Italy in its implementation and revisions of treaties and international
conventionsA treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
. Within the organization of the
European UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the ministry advocates Italy's positions on councils of foreign politics and common security such as, CFSP, The European Community and Euratom. It cooperates with international organizations on issues of
developmentRegional development is the provision of aid and other assistance to regions which are less economically developed. Regional development may be domestic or international in nature...
,
immigrationImmigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, and the protection of Italians and workers abroad.
External links