At the international conference “Palermo, crocevia del Mediterraneo”, attended by delegates from 29 countries, the Med-Or Foundation unveiled its roadmap to 2027 — culminating in the 1400th anniversary of the Arab arrival in Sicily.
- The plan includes a new Virtual Academy, expanded African operations, and partnerships in the Gulf and Latin America.
- “Without the South, a new world order cannot be built,” the Med-Or International Board declared.
- “We are investing in education and skills to create local cooperation — from agriculture to cybersecurity.”
What they’re saying:
- Marco Minniti, president of Med-Or, warned: “The West must not leave the South to China and Russia. Italy can help Europe avoid that mistake.”
- University Minister Anna Maria Bernini called Italy “a hinge between Europe and the Mediterranean in research and innovation”, noting that Med-Or acts as a “special advisor” in the Mattei Plan.
- Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said Med-Or inspired the cultural dimension of the Mattei Plan and praised its role in “cultural diplomacy across the wider Mediterranean”.
Zoom in: cooperation as a vector. Italy is blending academic cooperation and strategic outreach. Joint Degrees and capacity-building programs with African universities aim to train a new generation of professionals “speaking the same language”.
- Med-Or is building an “ecosystem” of universities, research centres, businesses and territories.
Between the lines: The emphasis on Palermo is deliberate. It recalls Sicily’s historic role as a cultural crossroads — a narrative now repurposed for geopolitical relevance.
Yes, but… While the vision is ambitious, questions remain about scalability, funding, and Europe’s willingness to fully embrace a long-term soft power pivot.
The bottom line: In a time of war and fragmentation, Italy is crafting a diplomacy rooted in culture and connectivity. Palermo is the lab — the Mediterranean is the testing ground.
