Welcome Association Italy to the conference “Europe and the MENA Region: Partner, Power, or Spectator?”
Welcome Association Italy (WAI) participated in the conference “Europe and the MENA Region: Partner, Power, or Spectator?”, organized by LUSDA – Luiss University Student Diplomatic Association and held on November 12, 2025 at LUISS Guido Carli University, on the Viale Romania campus.
WAI was represented by Carlo Palumbo, who was officially invited by the student association.
A high-content discussion on Europe, the Mediterranean and MENA scenarios.
The event attracted diplomats, analysts, researchers and students interested in the dynamics of the wider Mediterranean and the relationship between the European Union and the MENA region.
The conference offered a wide-ranging overview of the political, energy and socio-economic transformations that characterize one of the most relevant geopolitical chessboards for Italy and Europe.
The proceedings were opened by greetings from LUSDA Co-Chairs Matilde Sardo and Benedetta Rovella, who stressed the importance of cultivating student-led spaces for international debate.
Next, Amb. Pietro Benassi – former Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister and Ambassador of Italy to Germany – gave the opening keynote, analyzing Europe’s role in the MENA region, its political responsibilities and the strategic opportunities emerging in a context marked by instability, energy competition and new global balances.
Analysis and perspectives from diplomacy and academia
The subsequent panel discussion brought together outstanding speakers:
- Dr. Andrea Dessì, Senior Fellow, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Head of the MENA Program
- Amb. Pietro Benassi , former Diplomatic Advisor to the Presidency of the Council.
- Dr. Silvia Colombo, NATO Defense College and Associate Fellow IAI
- Amb. Giovanni Mistretta , former Ambassador of Italy to Angola and Ethiopia
The speakers discussed the central issues of Euro-Mediterranean policy:
- The geopolitical presence of the EU between competition and cooperation
- Regional security and the changing balance in North Africa.
- The role of energy resources and the implications for Europe
- Migration flows and new approaches to the Euro-MENA dialogue.
The discussion, followed by a Q&A session, allowed students to engage directly with figures who work in the field of international relations on a daily basis.
Carlo Palumbo’s (WAI) statement.
“This conference shows how decisive it is to enhance the prominence of the younger generation in the issues of diplomacy, international relations and Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. To see students capable of organizing such high-level moments of confrontation is a source of great confidence. Welcome Association Italy firmly believes that young people must be put in a position to understand, discuss and influence major global processes. Initiatives like this, promoted by entities like LUSDA, represent a concrete investment in the future of international dialogue.“
– Carlo Palumbo, Welcome Association Italy
WAI’s commitment: supporting student voice
WAI’s presence at the appointment confirms the association’s willingness to wholeheartedly support:
- student-led initiatives
- the international and diplomatic growth paths of the younger generation
- the spaces for discussion between academia, institutions and civil society
WAI sees the active participation of young people as an indispensable element in building a culture that is more open, aware and prepared to face global challenges.
Acknowledgements
Welcome Association Italy would like to thank LUSDA, and in particular its Presidents Matilde Sardo and Benedetta Rovella, for the kind invitation and for the quality and care with which the event was organized.
The conference represents a virtuous example of how student associations can contribute concretely to public debate and the development of a new international sensibility.
