Amb. Pugliese, 'with Austria key partnership on energy'

(ANSA) - ROMA, 16 DIC - 'Italy will become, we hope, an energy hub because there is a reversal of energy flows, no longer from the north but from Africa, green energy, and this puts us in a very close relationship with Austria because Austria is in a strategic position of connection between Italy, Northern Europe and Eastern Europe'. Ambassador to Vienna Giovanni Pugliese told ANSA on the sidelines of the Ambassadors' Conference.
    'We have important joint projects between Italy, Austria and also Germany both for the future production of hydrogen in Algeria but also in Tunisia, and for energy production, so the transport of its hydrogen pipeline which is something that is yet to come, it will arrive perhaps in 20 years, but it will certainly represent a central element of the energy transition,' he added.
    The cooperation between Italy and Austria 'is also very close at the European level, on the issue of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans: Minister Tajani and his Austrian colleague have made joint visits, we are great supporters of bringing that area closer to Europe, also to avoid a vacuum that would attract our Russian and Chinese competitors. And even on the issue of migration there is a very good dialogue,' the diplomat added.
    On the trade front, 'we are Austria's second partner, we have almost 30 billion in trade. It is a very balanced exchange, in terms of imports and exports on technology, energy and agribusiness. Of course, there is also an extraordinarily rich relationship at the cultural, scientific, musical, exchange level at all levels, there is a great desire for Italy in Austria,' stressed Pugliese.