Classic

Currently he is also member of Board of Directors of BLU Banca SpA and Good Shepherd Internationa Foundation, organization no-profit to which works to implement a development and human rights in low and middle-income countries and to remove the causes that generate poverty and injustice, promoting an inclusive and sustainable development for the most marginalized and vulnerable.

I was Assistant Director General at United Nations FAO, managed the Organization’s Programme Support and Technical Cooperation department in policy areas such as private sector, south-south cooperation, resource mobilization and quality control. I also assumed responsibilities for G-20 and World Food Systems Summit (2018 - 2020).

As senior manager of the European Commission (2013-2019) I was Director for Planet and Prosperity up to 2017. I was responsible for the elaboration and set up of the EU’s external investment plan with the European Fund for Sustainable Development. I held the chairmanship of investment committee facilities of the European Union and of the Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB). As director, I was in charge of thematic policy conception, promotion and implementation in the sectors of financial engineering and blended finance, renewable energy and energy efficiency, environment and climate change, agriculture food and nutrition security, rural development, private sector, trade, regional integration, urban development, digitalization, infrastructures and transport local authority. I managed several communications of the EC to the Council including those on private sector in development, ICT and urban agenda as well as the External Investment Plan of the EU in Africa.

I worked as European Union Ambassador to Uganda, (2010-2013) where I managed political, economic and trade relations between EU and Uganda and launched “Yield”, the first ever public-private equity fund for small scale agriculture. From 2005 to 2007, I was European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, overseeing 11 countries and 4 EU territories and promoted innovative initiatives for de-risking investments launching in 2005 the blue-green strategy of the EU for the Pacific.

As Head of Division at the European Commission, I set up and then chaired the investment committee of Fund of Funds GEEREF, (2008-2010) incorporated in Luxembourg to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency. I also set up and managed the task force to implement the successful one billion EUR EU Food Facility in only 18 months.

In 2004 I set up and managed the EU Commission’s task force for the European Union water and energy facility, while previously (2001-2004) as principal coordinator in charge of public-private partnerships for investments in environment and transport dealing with enlargement of the EU. I served as Head of Monitoring Unit and coordinator for Energy and Transport at the European Agency for Reconstruction in Pristina (Kosovo 2000-2001). Earlier I was economic and development advisor for the EU in Namibia and in Malawi (1994-2000). From 1986 to 1994, I assumed several management positions in the private sector, mainly in construction and ICT.

I have a PhD in A Technology from the Sapienza University (Rome) (1991) on expert systems, an MBA from the Open University (1998) and a magna cum laude Master degree in engineering from the Sapienza University (1985). I speak Italian (mother tongue) English and French and authored several articles and interviews in Italian and English.

Member of the board of directors of UMEME Ltd.

He entered the Chamber of Deputies for the first time in 1987, elected in the district of Lecce-Brindisi-Taranto. In 1992 he is the leader. re-elected, he assumes the position of President of the group of deputies of the PDS. In 1994 he was a candidate, with the new single-member electoral system, in the 11th college of Puglia, where he was reconfirmed on 21 April 1996.

Professional journalist, he collaborated on "Città futura", "Rinascita" and "l'Unità" of which he was director from 1988 to 1990.

He is currently President of the Italianieuropei Foundation.

From 21 October 1998 to April 2000 he held the office of President of the Council of Ministers.

In December 2000 he was elected President of the Left Democrats.

From October 2003 to August 2012 he was vice-president of the Socialist International, a position to which he was elected in the Congress of Sao Paulo in Brazil and reconfirmed during the Congress of Athens in July 2008.

In June 2004 he was elected to the European Parliament where he held the position of President of the Permanent Delegation for relations between the European Union and Mercosur.

On 9 April 2006 he was elected deputy on the list of the Olive tree in the Puglia district.

On 17 May 2006 he was appointed Vice President and Foreign Minister in the Prodi government.

On 22 April 2008, he was confirmed as Deputy of the XVI Legislature in the XXI Puglia District on the Democratic Party lists.

From January 2010 to March 2013 he was President of the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (COPASIR).

From June 2010 to June 2017 he was President of the Foundation of European Progressive Studies (FEPS).