Italy: Giorgia Meloni plays appeasement during her first visit to Brussels
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on November 3, 2022. AP - Virginia Mayo
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
For her first visit to Brussels, the new far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni opted on Thursday for a calm tone with the leaders of the European Union, insisting on “positive” exchanges and remaining measured on the points of friction. like immigration.
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"
I am happy with the climate I found in Brussels
," said the 45-year-old sovereignist leader, after her successive meetings with Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission , and Charles Michel, Chairman of the Board.
“
From a personal, human point of view, a very frank and very positive exchange has been created
,” added the first female head of government in Italy, at the head of the most right-wing government since the post- war.
The one who leads the third largest economy in the euro zone
has shown herself determined to focus on the sensitive issue of soaring energy prices, a fight already initiated by her predecessor Mario Draghi who had called for a solution to Twenty-Seven and castigated the individualistic approach taken by Berlin.
Claiming to have “
presented the Italian point of view
”, she insisted on the need “
to provide a European solution as soon as possible
”, defending the idea of a gas price cap.
Face-to-face expected with von der Leyen
Same conciliatory tone on the side of Ursula von der Leyen, who mentioned, in a tweet, the "
strong signal
" sent by this visit.
"
It was a good opportunity to discuss crucial topics
," she added, referring in particular to Ukraine, energy and the issue of migrants.
His face-to-face with Ursula von der Leyen was particularly awaited since the outcry provoked in Italy by the remarks of the President of the Commission, who had warned before the elections in the peninsula against the consequences to which the Italy in the event of deviation from democratic principles.
Sign of a form of caution on both sides, no joint declaration was organized at the end of these three meetings which were carefully scrutinized,
against a background of energy crisis
which is testing the resistance of the 'Union.
The issue of immigration
But the participants tried to highlight the points of convergence.
"
We are totally aligned with Ukraine
," said Roberta Metsola after the meeting.
“
We will continue to be firm on the sanctions.
And we are united in reaffirming our support for Ukraine
”.
But it will be difficult for Brussels to avoid a confrontation over immigration, a favorite theme of the far right in Italy, which is one of the main gateways for migrants in Europe.
The new Italian leader has clearly made her difference heard on this point.
"
We have of course talked about the migratory flows and the Italian demand for a change
(...)
under which the priority, already provided for in European standards, is the defense of the external borders
", she explained .
“
It is a very delicate, very important subject
”, she continued, assuring, without further details, to have found in Brussels “
attentive ears.
»
(
With
AFP)
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