Luca Franchetti Pardo took the position of the Italian Ambassador to Poland in February 2023. In his diplomatic career, which began in 1989, he has held various roles in Italy and abroad, including as Deputy Chief of Mission in Tel Aviv, at the Permanent Representation of Italy to the Atlantic Council in Brussels, and later in Washington. He has also served as Ambassador to the Political and Security Committee of the EU and most recently as Deputy Director-General for Political Affairs and Director for Security at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In Warsaw, Franchetti Pardo had a challenging start with the arrival of representatives from the highest Italian state institutions: President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, followed by two visits from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Minister of Made in Italy Adolf Urso, Minister of Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano, not to mention the organization of an impressive celebration of the Italian Republic – Festa della Repubblica Italiana – with the participation of around a thousand guests.
“Indeed, it must be acknowledged that it was an intense time, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visiting just five days after the start of my term. This visit was important from a symbolic point of view, as it took place on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Then, a month later, it was the turn of Minister of Entrepreneurship and Made in Italy Adolf Urso in Warsaw, and after less than two months, a significant state visit by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. It was a long and important mission that brought President Mattarella to Krakow and Auschwitz on the day of the ‘March of the Living,’ in which 10,000 people participated, including many school delegations and several Italian Holocaust survivors.”
What impression did the Italian community in Poland leave on you?
Although I know the vitality and vigor of our community, I must admit that I am very positively impressed by it. There is a thriving network of Italian entrepreneurs rooted in Polish society, not just here for business purposes, but genuinely integrated into the community. There is an intense cultural interdependence supported by many initiatives and events, showing that we continue the legacy of historical centuries-old relations between Italy and Poland. In this regard, I would like to mention the recent visit of Minister of Culture Sangiuliano, who participated in the inauguration of a very important exhibition currently taking place at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, focusing on the beginnings of the Italian Renaissance.
Considering its current central geopolitical position, is Poland becoming an increasingly strategic country for Italy?
Poland is one of the five most important countries in Europe in terms of size, demographics, and economic growth, particularly central due to its influence among countries in the Baltic-Black Sea region. The conflict in Ukraine has only highlighted this crucial fact. Poles are becoming increasingly aware of this, and I believe that, by taking on this central role, they are seeking allies. Italy is certainly a friendly country to Poland, both because of historical and cultural ties and due to a lack of conflicts of interest and complex relations with other countries. This mix of positive factors connecting Rome and Warsaw has allowed both countries to develop exceptional economic relations in recent years, leading to a trade exchange of 34 billion euros. These numbers, which exceed those with large countries like Brazil and India, show that the path of Euro-Atlanticism is a roadmap for our development. Let me explain: the pandemic, along with disruptions in value chains, has shown that the era of globalization is coming to an end. Today, our internal market is Europe, and in this context, it is essential to continue investing here, as value chains will be safer in terms of distance and these very “values.” This means that we are dealing with countries that also share ethical standards similar to ours. However, this does not mean that we need to build a “European fortress.” On the contrary, Italy has a highly internationalized economy and has always prospered through international trade. We must continue to prioritize developing relationships with our European neighbors.
What do you think will happen on the long-awaited day when the war in Ukraine ends?
First, we will celebrate the end of this nightmare and, I am convinced, a just peace for Ukraine. From this perspective, it is clear that a massive effort is needed to rebuild the country, both in terms of infrastructure and regulations, to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union, which is its natural goal. Poland and Italy can play a significant role in the country’s reconstruction, and they are already heading in that direction. While we are aware of the close Polish-Ukrainian relations, it should be noted that Italy is also active and close to Kiev. We were, in fact, among the promoters of Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership. There is also the matter of organizing Expo 2030. Due to the war, Odessa’s candidacy has been withdrawn, but since Rome was chosen (as the only European candidate and the capital of a country that is openly allied with Kiev), efforts are being made to develop an effective formula for cooperation with Odessa in this regard. All of these issues seem to me to be excellent reasons to build hope that we can also count on Poland’s support here.
What do you think about the growing number of members in AIRE (Registry of Italians Resident Abroad) in Poland?
The presence of Italian citizens in Poland is indeed increasing, and I hope this phenomenon will contribute to a revival of relations between both countries. We are well aware that the actual numbers associated with the Italian presence in Poland far exceed official data. As an ambassador, I strive to develop what Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tajani called “growth diplomacy,” which involves diplomatic actions that help Italians prosper economically in the country and around the world, wherever there is a “demand” for our culture, economy, and language. These three synergistic pillars of Italian identity abroad. Therefore, we are focusing on the prospect of increasing the number of Italian language classes in Polish high schools and, why not, establishing an institution conducted entirely in Italian.
Is there any specific goal that is close to you and that you want to achieve during this mandate?
The role of diplomacy, and therefore mine, is to focus on initiatives that strengthen relations between Italy and Poland in various fields and areas. I would like to see more exchanges and collaborative projects between Italian and Polish universities. Italy takes pride in its education system, both at the primary and specialized levels, which is of the highest standard. We are a country that invests in research and innovation, and, therefore, we aim to attract companies and young people from abroad, including from Poland