Posted on 19 October 2018
EUI President Renaud Dehousse and Secretary General Vincenzo Grassi welcomed Italy's Undersecretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guglielmo Picchi, to the Institute on Friday 19 October.
The purpose of the visit was to sign an addendum to the Site Agreement held between Italy and the Institute. The addendum adds Palazzo Buontalenti, an historic building located in the centre of Florence, to the EUI's campus.
The Honourable Picchi signed the agreement together with EUI President Renaud Dehousse and Mr Stefano Lombardi, Director of the Agenzia del Demanio for Tuscany and Umbria.
The Honorable Guglielmo Picchi, Professor Renaud Dehousse, and Engineer Stefano Lombardi sign the Addendum granting the EUI use of Palazzo Buontalenti.
Italy, as host to the European University Institute, generously provides for the buildings that house the EUI's activities.
Palazzo Buontalenti, following renovation, will be the home of the School of Transnational Governance (STG), now located in the Badia Fiesolana. The STG offers executive training programmes, hosts a fellowship programme, and conducts policy dialogues on issues of transnational governance. A masters programme will start in 2020.
The Honorable Picchi expressed his satisfaction at signing this agreement, noting that it represents a concrete example of Italy's commitment to higher education. 'Italy is pleased to share its patrimony for such an important project.' 'We are opening up a space that has been empty for far too long. In the EUI's School of Transnational Governance, we have a new school to prepare leaders for the new struggles they face. It takes training and dialogue to confront today's issues, it is right to support this initiative, and I wish it the greatest success.'
Professor Renaud Dehousse, President of the EUI, expressed the profound gratitude the Institute and its contracting states feel towards Italy for their continued support of the EUI's activities. 'This agreement allows us to start a new school, and it brings us even closer to the citizens of Florence. Our presence there will hopefully allow us to further develop the citizen dialogue and discussion on European themes, which is deeply needed.'
Palazzo Buontalenti, in downtown Florence, will be occupied by the EUI's School of Transnational Governance in 2019.