“Punto Italia”: a “mobile consulate” to assist Italians during the European Championships in Germany

The Vice President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, and the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, presented to the Farnesina the "Point Italy“: a traveling consular post, set up on a mobile office of the State Police, which will move between the various cities of Germany to provide assistance to the numerous Italian fans who will follow our national football team.

“We wanted to start this unprecedented collaboration between the Farnesina and the State Police to provide even faster and more efficient consular assistance to all Italian citizens who will follow our national team to the European Football Championships” commented Tajani, which highlighted the objective of better responding to the needs of compatriots abroad, especially in cases of emergency, and improving our consular services.

“An initiative that will allow us to be closer to our fellow citizens during the European Football Championships. This activity is accompanied by an important collaboration between the State Police and the German authorities. Our agents and officials, fan experts, will be in Germany where they will collaborate with the police forces of the host country to guarantee the best safety conditions during sporting events" declared Minister Piantedosi.

Also speaking at the ceremony were the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi and the Head of the Secretariat of the Department of Public Security of the Ministry of the Interior, Prefect Sergio Bracco.

The "Mobile Consulate" will be located in the places with the greatest influx of Italian fans, such as stations or stadiums. The cities in which he will play for the national team are Dortmund (15 June Italy-Albania), Gelsenkirchen (20 June Italy-Spain) and Leipzig (24 June Italy-Croatia). Further stages will depend on the outcome of the qualifiers.

In the mobile office of the State Police, set up with institute livery and where State Police operators will also be present, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff on duty at the consular offices in Germany competent for the territory will offer a series of assistance services: contacts with family members in Italy in case of need; issuing emergency travel documents; linguistic assistance and/or intermediation with local law enforcement agencies or in case of health needs; legal assistance.