In his speech, the ambassador first introduced the Institutional Issues of the Union for the Mediterranean and stressed that the former Euromediterranean Partnership failed to meet the great expectations that had accompanied its creation, and there is wide agreement on the fact that the birth of the Union for the Mediterranean was a major opportunity to revive the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.

The UfM developed significantly at the beginning of 2010, thanks to the more pragmatic approach adopted by the Arab group towards the Union's activity, based on the common need to develop plans for its future. The appointing of the Secretary General of the UfM and the agreement on the Secretariat By-Laws, confirmed these positive signs and paved the way for the forthcoming establishment of the UfM Secretariat, for which agreement was also reached concerning its temporary budget for the year 2010.

In March 2010 Italy took on the Presidency of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, which is the only parliamentary body to be acknowledged within the UfM.

In the continuation the Ambassador presented the role and projects of Italy in the frame of the Union. Italy has managed to consolidate its stance as leading European trade partner for the countries on the southern rim (exports to this area amount to approximately 25 billion euro, with recent average yearly increases ranging around 15%), and the need to achieve greater cooperation within the Mediterranean area has become even more urgent. Pietromarchi also stressed the need for creating areas of regional economic integration as tools to tackle global competition more efficiently and the need for a shared regional approach to face this and other common major challenges, such as population growth, climate changes, pollution, maritime safety, planning urban development, the growing demand for energy, the shortage of primary The Mediterranean area has long been suffering from a severe shortage of infrastructural facilities cutting across the region both vertically and horizontally, especially a shortage of transportation networks. It appears of paramount importance to develop ports, to establish a strong port network and to center the freight transportation policy on ports and railways, backed by an efficient airport and highway network. Italy's geographic position makes it an essential hub for the commercial traffic crossing the Mediterranean basin. At this stage, trade relations and exchanges along the north-south routes in the Mediterranean need to be fostered and intensified respectively. Another strategic goal of Italy, one that is partaken also by the Commission is integrating the different sector-based policies concerning the "sea system". The priority lines of action are for example: sustainable development of oceans and seas, creation of a database of knowledge and innovation for the maritime policy, improving the quality of life in the coastal regions, Europe's guiding role in international maritime affairs.