Digital innovation, emergency assistance and the modernisation of consular services are at the heart of Italy's strategy to better serve its citizens living overseas. These were the key themes of the Conference of Italian Consuls, held at the Foreign Ministry in Rome and attended by more than 170 members of the country's diplomatic and consular network. The event focused on the challenges facing a rapidly growing Italian community abroad, which now numbers more than 7.3 million people. President Sergio Mattarella praised the work of the consular network, describing consuls as "the closest and most tangible face of the Republic" for millions of Italians living outside the country. He highlighted their role in providing protection, assistance and support, often in difficult and constantly changing circumstances.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed that message, calling consuls the "mayors of Italy around the world" and recognising their importance as a point of reference for Italians who live, work or find themselves in need abroad. A major priority is the digital transformation of consular services. The Foreign Ministry is expanding online procedures through the Fast-It platform, which already serves more than 2.7 million registered users, while a new dedicated mobile app is also in development. Today, the vast majority of AIRE registration procedures are handled digitally, and in 2025 the consular network issued more than 550,000 passports and over 200,000 electronic identity cards.
Consular work, however, extends far beyond administrative paperwork. Over the past year, the network handled more than 4,000 assistance cases, including 125 medical evacuations. During the Gulf crisis in March 2026, Italian diplomatic missions coordinated the repatriation of around 10,000 citizens.
Among the new initiatives unveiled during the conference were the launch of a state-of-the-art Citizens' Services Operations Centre, designed to improve emergency response and coordination, and a partnership between the Foreign Ministry and ITA Airways to promote the "Roots Tourism" programme, encouraging Italians and people of Italian descent to reconnect with their places of origin.
Alongside its assistance activities, Italy's consular network continues to promote the country's language, culture and educational system through scholarships, university partnerships and international publishing initiatives, reinforcing its role as a bridge between Italy and its communities around the world.