It was in the grand hall of the Italian Consulate General on Park Avenue in New York that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani met with the Italian and Italian-American community last Wednesday, the 24th. The audience included entrepreneurs, students, professionals—and, of course, the usual suspects.
The occasion, according to Tajani himself, was solemn. But the tone of his speech was almost lyrical. "Every Italian outside Italy is an ambassador for our country," he declared, with the firmness typical of a veteran politician. The phrase, though symbolic, is not new.
Between reverence for the history of immigration and exaltations of the "Italian genius," Tajani promised to transform the services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: more support for companies, greater promotion of Made in Italy, less bureaucracy in consulates.
"We must never make Italians abroad feel alone," he stated. "We must support them with more efficient consular services and institutions, which are tools of support, not obstacles," he added.
One of the highlights of the night was the symbolic delivery of the Italian citizenship to American journalist Maria Bartiromo.
It's worth remembering: it was Tajani's decree that gave rise to the law approved in May of this year, which tightened access to Italian citizenship by descent.
The new rule stipulates that citizenship will be recognized only for two generations of descendants—children and grandchildren of Italians. Previously, any generation could apply for recognition.
It will also be required that the descendant does not have another nationality, which excludes Italian descendants who will now no longer be able to pass on citizenship.
FOLLOW ITALIANISM
