LONDON, DECEMBER 1 – The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization has elected the Members of its Council for the 2024-2025 biennium. Italy has been reconfirmed among the 40 states elected. “We are the most voted country: a historic result that demonstrates Italy’s centrality in promoting maritime cooperation, navigation safety, and marine environment protection,” commented Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani on X upon learning the voting outcome. The newly elected Council will meet, following the conclusion of the 33rd Assembly, for its 131st session (on 7 December) and will elect its Chair and Vice-Chair for the next biennium.
The results were announced today in London after an assembly where Italy was represented for the first time by a government political figure: Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Edoardo Rixi. Representatives of 40 states were elected, divided into categories based on size and maritime weight, with 10 in category A, 10 in category B, and 20 in category C.
Italy, running among the candidates in category A, received 146 votes, according to a diplomatic note released in the British capital to emphasize Italy’s success in this context. Tied for first place were Japan and Greece, with one more vote than China, the fourth-placed, and followed by Norway and Panama with 4 more votes, South Korea with 5, the host country the United Kingdom with 7, and the United States with 9.
In category A, Russia did not make it to the council, remaining at 80 votes out of a total of 166 national delegations voting and 162 valid ballots.
The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.(@OnuItalia)
