On Monday 5th December 2011, the inaugural day of Senior Course 119’s third Field Study – on Regional Approaches and the Mediterranean Dialogue – was held at the Engineers’ Command, inside the Cecchignola military complex in Rome. After a very warm welcome by the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Engineers’ Command, Brigadier General CARPINO, Course Members were briefed on the activities of the National Counter IED Centre of Excellence by Lieutenant Colonel RICCI and also had the opportunity to make a short tour of the Centre.
In the day’s programme of lectures and presentations, Italian security and defence policy was outlined by three distinguished speakers who provided very candid insights into all the current issues that Italy is facing in a resource-constrained national environment.
The first briefing was delivered by Counsellor Fabrizio COLACECI of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Counsellor COLACECI is the Director of the department dealing with NATO-related political-military issues within the Directorate General for Security and Political Affairs. In his presentation, he spoke of Italian foreign policy, focusing on the importance of the relationship not only with the UN, the EU and NATO, but also with many non-allied countries.
From the Ministry of the Interior, Dr DELICATO, who is responsible for international bilateral affairs in law enforcement issues within the Public Security Department, provided an in-depth analysis of the problems connected with transnational organised crime. His presentation included an appraisal of the challenges Italy is facing with regard to illegal immigration.
The final speaker was Brigadier General CANDOTTI, Deputy Chief of the Plans and Policy Department in the Italian Armed Forces Joint Staff, who delivered an outstanding lecture on defence policy. His presentation highlighted the main commitments of the Italian Armed Forces, assessing prospects and challenges. He referred in particular to the current economic situation, and its expected implications for security and defence policy.
The briefings were followed by an extremely lively discussion period, during which many challenging questions were answered frankly and thoughtfully.
NDC Public Affairs Office
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN