The Strategic Role of Cities in International Relations

The seminar is convened by City Diplomacy Lab, in partnership with the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI), the Italian Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AICCRE), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), PLATFORMA, Eurocities, and the Global Parliament of Mayors. 

With the participation of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, the event will launch a national conversation on how Italy can spearhead a renewed and secure model of city diplomacy. Together with its twin event at the French Senate on 8 September, this initiative marks the first step in a broader international process led by the City Diplomacy Lab and its partners, with upcoming milestones at the European Parliament and within the Urban 7 framework.

See website for possible updates to the schedule:

10:00–10:20 – Institutional Opening

• Hon. Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (invited)
• Hon. Lia Quartapelle, Vice President, Foreign Affairs Committee, Chamber of Deputies
• Prof. Gaetano Manfredi, Mayor of Naples; President of ANCI (invited)

10:20–10:30 – International Strategic Insights

• Dr. Paola Deda, Director, Forests, Land and Housing Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Amb. Nina Hachigian (ret.), Former First U.S. Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy (invited)

10:30–10:40 – Presentation of the City Diplomacy Lab Report “Cities at a Crossroads”

• Dr. Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, Director, City Diplomacy Lab; Lecturer at Columbia University, Sciences Po, and École Polytechnique
• Prof. Cecilia Emma Sottilotta, Associate Researcher, City Diplomacy Lab; Assistant Professor, University for Foreigners of Perugia

10:40–11:40 – Roundtable of Italian Mayors

• Prof. Ing. Alessandro Ghinelli, Mayor of Arezzo
• Dr. Anna Lisa Boni, Deputy Mayor for International Relations and Cooperation, Bologna
• Prof. Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin; Vice President of ANCI for EU and International Affairs
• Ms. Silvia Salis, Mayor of Genoa (invited)
• Dr. Vittoria Ferdinandi, Mayor of Perugia; ANCI Delegate for Equality, Families, Inclusion and Peace (invited)

11:40–12:10 – Audience Q&A
12:10–12:20 – Closing Remarks

• Dr. Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, Director, City Diplomacy Lab