Italy: Roberta Metsola and Antonio Tajani to address SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, have confirmed their participation at SiGMA Central Europe, which will be held in Rome from November 3 to 6.

President Metsola is set to deliver the opening keynote on November 4, marking the launch of SiGMA’s inaugural Central Europe edition. Her address will be followed by remarks from Minister Tajani and SiGMA Founder Eman Pulis.

The event, taking place for the first time in the Italian capital, will bring together key figures from government, policy, and the public sector. Over four stages, participants will hear from influential leaders, including Italy’s Undersecretary of State for the Ministry for Economy and Finance, Federico Freni.

Roberta Metsola, elected President of the European Parliament in January 2022, became the youngest person to hold the position and the first woman to be re-elected for a second term in July 2024.

Under her leadership, the European Parliament has focused on strengthening transparency, efficiency, and accountability. Metsola, a lawyer by profession specializing in European law and politics, was first elected to the European Parliament in 2013.

Before entering politics, she served in Malta’s Permanent Representation to the EU and later as a legal advisor to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Minister Tajani, who began his career in journalism in 1980, has held numerous high-level political and European roles. A co-founder of Forza Italia, he has served as the party’s Vice President, National Coordinator, and, since February 2024, National Secretary. He has also been Vice President of the European People’s Party since 2002.

Elected to the European Parliament in 1994, Tajani was appointed European Commissioner for Transport in 2008 and later served as Vice President and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship.

In January 2017, he became President of the European Parliament. From 2019 to 2022, he chaired the Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs and the Conference of Committee Chairs. Tajani assumed his current ministerial role in October 2022.

SiGMA Central Europe 2025 will be held at Fiera Roma, a 100,000-square-meter venue in the city. The three-day event will feature more than 550 speakers, 1,700 exhibitors and sponsors, and is expected to attract 30,000 delegates from over 150 countries.

The program includes two award ceremonies recognizing B2B and B2C excellence, along with a Hall of Game segment honoring industry innovators. Adding a cultural highlight to the event, renowned tenor Plácido Domingo and acclaimed South African soprano Pretty Yende will perform at a private concert.