The Italian German Action Plan and Its Consequences over Industry and Defence

The Italian-German Strategic Dialogue (IGSD) is a forum for discussion and exchange between think tanks, diplomats, businesses and academics from Germany and Italy. The first session, held in Rome in November 2022, discussed the possibility of a formal agreement between Italy and Germany set to expand the existing bilateral collaboration. Exactly one year later, the Italian and German governments adopted a collaborative action plan that specifically addresses both bilateral and European matters. The Action Plan embraces issues such as commercial competitiveness, defence, the green economy and cultural protection. Furthermore, this agreement supports talks between Italian and German think tanks on key bilateral issues, promoting regular gatherings among private and public stakeholders. The second edition of the Italian-German Strategic Dialogue was held in Berlin in January 2024 and focused mostly on the economic and defence sectors, as the Action Plan sets the path for increased ambition in both areas. The roundtable was organised by the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), in collaboration with the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and the Hanns Seidel Stiftung (HSS). The event was attended by notable Italian and German industry representatives, as well as high-ranking civil servants and military officers.

Report of the second edition of the Italian-German Strategic Dialogue (IGSD), organised by IAI, SWP and HSS in January 2024.