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Antonio Tajani (; born 4 August 1953) is an Italian politician who has been serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Foreign Affairs since 22 October 2022. He served as President of the European Parliament from 2017 to 2019, as European Commissioner from 2008 to 2014, and also as a member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 2008 and again from 2014 to 2022 until he was elected to Italy's Chamber of Deputies.
Following the death of Silvio Berlusconi, on 15 July 2023 Tajani was appointed secretary of italic=no, becoming the party's new leader.
He was one of the founders of the italic=no party in 1994, and then regional coordinator of the party in Lazio from 1994 in 2005.
In Berlusconi's first government (1994–95), he was a spokesman for the Prime Minister.
In 1996 he ran for parliament in the Alatri constituency, but obtained only 45.3% of the votes and was defeated by the representative of the Olive Tree.
In 2001, Tajani was a candidate for mayor of Rome for the coalition of the House of Freedom, but was defeated by Walter Veltroni after polling 47.8% of votes.
Professional journalist since 1980, he was parliamentary reporter, editor of Il Settimanale, presenter on RAI of Gr1 and finally head of the Roman editorial staff of Il Giornale newspaper under the direction of Indro Montanelli. He was a special envoy to Lebanon, the Soviet Union and Somalia. In addition to Italian he speaks English, French and Spanish. He is married to Brunella Orecchio and has two children. He's Catholic Church.
Since 2002 (the year of the Estoril Congress) Tajani has been one of 10 vice-presidents of the European People's Party. He was re-elected at the Rome Congress in 2006 and at the Bonn conference in 2009, and then again at the Bucharest Congress in 2012. Il Velino.it, 10 dicembre 2009
At the 2004 European elections he was elected from a list of italic=no in the Central college, receiving 122,000 preferences. He was admitted to the European People's Party.
Tajani was an MEP for Central Italy with the italic=no party from 2004 to 2008 and sat on the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was a substitute for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and a member of the Delegation for relations with Israel. "Barroso II: 13 EPP Commissioners receive key portfolios", European People's Party, 27 November 2009; accessed 28 November 2009
He was a member of the European Convention, which drafted the text of the European Constitution that never entered into force.
He was a member of the Working Group on the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Tajani oversaw the drafting of new EU Regulation relating to transport, including clarification of the rights of passengers in air transport. The aim was for passengers to receive assistance and reimbursement in case of denied boarding, cancellation or delay of the flight. The proposals were poor, resulting in widespread evasion by the airlines across Europe and abuse by customers. Both parties have called for reform of the legislation to make it fair and workable.
Michel Barnier was twice Acting Commissioner in his stead, from 19 April 2014 – 25 May 2014 while he was on electoral campaign leave for the 2014 elections to the European Parliament and from 1 July 2014 – 16 July 2014 after he took up his seat.
In October 2012 Fare più industria contro la crisi Il Sole 24 Ore, 17 Ottobre 2012 Antonio Tajani launched his campaign for a new industrial revolution in Europe L'Europa si è accorta che senza industria non si vive Milano Finanza, 18 Dicembre 2012 in order to flip the tendency of the economic crisis Une politique industrielle plus forte pour sortir de la crise Le Monde, 18 Dicembre 2012 Uma polìtica industrial europeia mais forte para sair da crise Diario de Noticia, 19 Dicembre 2012 and revamp industry. Europe needs an industrial revival Wall Street Journal, 18 Dicembre 2012 The concrete goals Tajani, piano europeo per la reindustrializzazione Il Sole 24 Ore, 10 Ottobre 2012 of this initiative are bringing the value of industry to as much as 20% of GDP by 2020, creating new jobs, and promoting sustainable growth. Niente dighe all'industria UE Il Sole 24 Ore, 20 Dicembre 2012
The new Late Payments Directive 2011/7/EU that has the goal of countering payment delays in commercial transactions, was adopted in 2011. Basta ritardi nei pagamenti Il Sole 24 Ore, 10 Aprile 2012 Following the adoption, Tajani urged a prompt implementation in all Member States, Pagamenti, l'Ue contro i ritardi Il Messaggero, 5 Ottobre 2012 even before the official deadline set for 16 March 2016. Crisi, Tajani, recepire integralmente e presto direttiva pagamenti Euractiv, 5 Ottobre 2012 In order to further accelerate the process, he launched an information campaign across the 27 Member States that takes place between October 2012 and December 2014. In March 2013 Tajani, along with Commissioner Olli Rehn said that the European Commission is ready to acknowledge "mitigating factors" on the assessment of compliance with the deficit and debt criteria, in the context of a plan for the disposal of old debts of the public administration to enterprises. Statement by Vice Presidents Rehn and Tajani on commercial debt of public administrations 18 March 2013
During 2012 Tajani led the drafting of a proposal to simplify the procedure to register cars in another Member State within the European Union. Immatricolazione intracomunitaria da sveltire, la Commissione europea insiste Sicurauto, 6 Aprile 2012 Concretely, the proposal, which should come into force in 2014, aims at reducing to a minimum the administrative procedures necessary to register cars, vans, trucks and buses in another Member State. Immatricolazioni, Commissione propone taglio burocrazia Euractiv, 4 Aprile 2012 Furthermore, it will be impossible to register in another country a stolen vehicle, thanks to the enhanced cooperation of the competent authorities at the European level.
In order to support the European fight against counterfeiting of industrial goods, in December 2012, Vice President Tajani launched an awareness campaign UE, Tajani, Contraffazione toglie a Italia 110 mila posti di lavoro La Stampa, 20 Dicembre 2012 for the citizens. Moreover, in February 2013 the European Commission further reinforced market surveillance through a plan to reinforce the controls of the products in the internal market. Contraffazione, dalla Commissione UE nuovo regolamento pe rafforzare i controlli in tutti gli Stati Membri L'Avvenire, 15 Gennaio 2013 In particular, the "Made in" is part of the discussion on counterfeiting, especially for the textile sector in Italy. Brussels woos fashion's corporate titans Financial Times, 28 Febbraio 2013 The package presented by Tajani and Tonio Borg, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy introduces among other things the denomination 'Made In' for products manufactured in and outside the EU, so as to better supervise what enters into the European market. Sicurezza prodotti, nuove norme Ue c'è l'obbligo di indicare l'origine Repubblica, 13 Febbraio 2013
With the goal of promoting competitiveness Auto, piano europeo per il rilancio Il Sole 24 Ore, 5 Giugno 2012 and sustainable development of the European automobile industry, Auto, Bruxelles vara il piano d'azione Europeo Il Messaggero, 9 Novembre 2012 Tajani presented in November 2012 Piano di rilancio dell'auto: la Ue punta sui fondi Bei Il Sole 24 Ore, 9 Novembre 2012 the Action Plan CARS2020. EU Kommissar Laedt zum Autogipfel Financial Times Deutschland, 9 Novembre 2012 The Plan focuses on a transition towards more energy efficiency and alternative energy sources, as well as technologies and advanced materials for the production. Guarded welcome for EU drive to help struggling car industry Financial Times UK, 9 Novembre 2012
Among the actions that Tajani undertook to foster growth and regain higher levels of employment, it is worth mentioning an Action Plan Tajani unveils plan to make entrepreneurship more attractive European Voice, 10 Gennaio 2013 aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, Il piano Tajani: più imprenditori, anche con il crowdfunding Europarlamento24, 9 Gennaio 2013 through specific measures to facilitate business transfers, increase access to finance, and give a second chance following a bankruptcy. Antonio Tajani on SMEs, strategy and new economy Euronews, 15 Gennaio 2013
Another of Tajani's initiatives was a project called "50,000 Tourists", launched on 1 June 2011, which focussed on promoting low-season tourism between Europe and South America, encouraging cooperation between European governments, the tourism industry, and airline companies. The European Commission is promoting travel during the offseason in the EU and South America Eurochile, 25 June 2012 The initiatives connected to tourism include a Travelers Decalogue in August 2012, Turista avvisato, il decalogo della Commissione europea Eunews, 2 Agosto 2012 a series of rules to travel in full safety. Additionally, in November 2012 Tajani presented, in collaboration with the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Cecilia Malmström, a Communication to examine how the implementation and development of a common policy in terms of visas could support the EU growth by providing more chances for foreign travelers to visit the Union. Commission banking on potential of Chinese and Russian tourism Europolitics, 7 Novembre 2012
In March 2013 the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso has appointed Tajani to lead the new EU-Brazil working group, which will also include the European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht and European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. The group will be in charge of evaluating the opportunities for industrial cooperation between the EU and Brazil, particularly in the most technological sectors. Ue-Brasile: Tajani presidente gruppo lavoro bilaterale Ansa, 7 Marzo 2013 On 11 June 2013 Tajani presented the first Action Plan for the Steel Industry since 1977 to help this sector face today's challenges and lay the foundations for future competitiveness by fostering innovation, creating growth and jobs. Taranto snodo del piano europeo. Tajani: «Produzione fondamentale» Corriere della Sera, 12 Giugno 2013 The Commission proposed to support the demand for European steel both at home and abroad, by acting to ensure that European steel producers have access to third countries in a fair trade market. EU unveils action plan for Europe's ailing steel sector Reuters, 11 June 2013
In March 2017, Tajani warned that "Africa is now risking becoming a Chinese colony" as the Chinese want only the raw materials but not interested in stability.
In February 2018, Silvio Berlusconi indicated Tajani as his candidate for the premiership if the centre-right would win the general election in March. Tajani accepted the candidacy on 1 March.
In January 2019, Tajani expressed hope to be re-elected for a second 2.5-year term, but he was replaced by another Italian, member of the Democratic Party, David Sassoli.
On 12 June 2023 Berlusconi died. A few days after Berlusconi's death, the party announced that a national council would be summoned before the end of summer in order to appoint an acting president and determine the road map toward the national congress that would elect the new party's leadership. In July, the party's national council amended the party's statute by removing the post of president, which would be forever associated with Berlusconi (including in the party's symbol), and introducing the post of secretary. Contextually, Tajani was unanimously elected secretary, becoming the party's new leader.
In an interview on 11 January 2024, Tajani said that, while Israel had hit civilians in its Gaza war against Hamas in Gaza Strip, it had not committed Gaza genocide. Tajani argued that the ICC arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could not be apllied at least until the end of Netanyahu's term, and then repeated on various occasions that Italy would not arrest Netanyahu.
However, on 28 May 2025, during a chamber of deputies session, Tajani shifted his stance, describing Israel’s military response as “dramatic and unacceptable” and calling for an immediate halt to operations in Gaza. He also condemned the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, stating it was “not and will never be an acceptable solution”. Further expressing Italy’s willingness to join a peacekeeping mission under Arab League, stressing the importance of respecting international humanitarian law and resuming humanitarian aid.
In the eve of his election as President of the European Parliament, LGBTI rights group, ILGA-Europe, expressed its disappointment with Tajani's new political post and his political backing from the European People's Party (EPP) and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). ILGA has stated that Tajani's concerns, expressed in 1996, with the psychological well-being of same-sex couples and his stance, expressed in 2014, against non heteronormative families are not in line with the stances of the ALDE and the EPP on non-discrimination based on sexual orientation.
In October 2018, Tajani told Rai News in an interview that the Italian government's plan for the citizens' income is "not going in the right direction", adding that it "will end up in the pockets of Roma, of foreign citizens – from the EU and non-EU – and certainly not in those of many Italian citizens". The European Roma Rights Centre criticized Tajani over his anti-Roma comments.
In February 2019, Tajani held a speech at the National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe commemoration in , near Trieste, which aroused an outrage in Slovenia and Croatia, most notably the statement " Long live Trieste, long live Italian Istria, long live Italian Dalmatia". After numerous high representatives of the two countries strongly condemned the speech for its revisionist and irredentist connotations, Tajani stated his words were intended as "a message of peace" and were misinterpreted. The Slovenian party Social Democrats launched a petition demanding Tajani's immediate resignation as president of the EU Parliament, which was signed among others by several former presidents of Slovenia and Croatia.
In a March 2019 radio interview on La Zanzara, a radio show on Italian network Radio 24, Tajani discussed "the good things Mussolini did" which was likewise criticized. In a later tweet, he wrote about manipulation of his words.
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