On Thursday, President Peter Pellegrini left for a working visit to Italy, where he will hold talks with representatives of the city and region of Apulia in the port city of Bari, open a new Slovak honorary consulate and support the deepening of relations between Slovakia and Italy. The press agency TASR reported on the program of the head of state with reference to the Office of the President of the Slovak Republic. The delegation includes representatives of several Slovak universities, the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the city of Liptovský Mikuláš and the business sector.
- President Peter Pellegrini arrived in Bari to deepen Slovak-Italian relations.
- A package of memoranda on the cooperation of municipalities and institutions is signed in Bari.
- The cities of Bari and Liptovský Mikuláš are building a partnership based on the cult of Saint Nicholas.
- Slovak universities and schools in Bari develop exchange stays and joint research projects.
- An honorary Slovak consulate is established in Bari, strengthening diplomatic and economic ties.
According to the president’s office, one of the main points of the visit is the signing of a package of memoranda between the Slovak and Italian partners at the municipal office in Bari. The documents are intended to provide a framework for the further development of cooperation in the areas of self-government, education, economy and transport.
Cities and St. Nicholas
The intention to deepen cooperation between the cities of Bari and Liptovský Mikuláš follows on from the common cultural and spiritual traditions associated with the personality of St. Nicholas. This symbolic basis should serve as a starting point for the preparation of a future memorandum of understanding between the two municipalities.
At the same time, the cities declare their interest in practical cooperation – especially in the joint organization of events, the exchange of experience in receiving visitors, the linking of schools and the implementation of joint European projects. The goal is to develop long-term partnership relations at the city level.
Academic connection
A special block of agreements concerns the academic environment. The memoranda between eight Slovak universities and three universities based in Bari are intended to create a framework for the development of cooperation in science and education. Exchange stays of students and teachers, joint research projects and the prospect of awarding double academic degrees are expected.
The delegation of Slovak universities is also scheduled to hold direct negotiations at the University of Bari. The discussion should focus on specific forms of inter-university cooperation, namely at several levels of academic and scientific life.
Award for the President
At the same time, the president’s office announced that Pellegrini will receive the Silver Seal of Aldo Mora University in Bari. The award is intended to be an expression of recognition and confirmation of developing academic cooperation at the European level.
The economic dimension of the visit is covered by an agreement between the Slovak Agency for the Development of Investments and Trade (SARIO) and the business organization Confindustria Puglia. The memorandum creates space for deepening bilateral economic cooperation, support for business contacts and investment activities between Slovakia and southern Italy.
Air connections
Another series of documents concerns air transport. The memoranda between the airports in Bari, Bratislava and Košice are aimed at strategic cooperation, the ambition of which is to strengthen transport links, support tourism and contribute to the development of economic relations between regions.
Part of Pellegrini’s program is also the ceremonial opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Slovak Republic in Bari. Since 2024, the position of Honorary Consul for the Apulia region has been held by Salvatore Chionno. According to the presidential office, the new office should function as a diplomatic, economic and cultural bridge between Slovakia and one of the most dynamic regions of southern Italy.
Most do Apúlie
At the same time, the honorary consulate should provide support to Slovak citizens working or traveling in the region and create space for the creation of new partnerships. They should be focused mainly on innovation, entrepreneurship, education and tourism development. The office of the president emphasized that it is the combination of political, academic and economic ties that has the potential to strengthen Slovakia’s presence in southern Italy in the long term.
