The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN) is responsible for the execution of the Italian Government's foreign policy. Its duties are regulated by Article 12 of the Legislative Decree n. 300 of July 30, 1999. The offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were transferred to their present site in Palazzo della Farnesina in 1959.

In 1967, Presidential Decree n. 18 of January 5 was issued to establish a complete set of regulations regarding the structure, operations and personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dividing them along functional lines rather than geography.

These regulations were recently modified and updated. In 2003, in order to respond to the modern demands of the country's foreign policy, Law n. 109 of 23 April 2003 made substantial changes to Presidential Decree n. 18 of 1967. In addition, a decree passed on 18 February 2003 reformed the organisation of Ministry offices. In this act, directorates general for geographic areas were added to those covering sectors of competence. The act also added a directorate general in charge of administrative matters and to manage the Ministry budget. Interministerial Decree no. 323 of 22 February 2006 and related annexes, establishing the role of the heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.