Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni insist on the need for “dialogue” between the two countries

The head of the far-right Italian government Giorgia Meloni and President Emmanuel Macron insisted on Tuesday, June 20, on the necessary “dialogue” between the two countries, after a series of crises around immigration.

“Italy and France are two linked nations, two important, central nations, protagonists in Europe that need dialogue at a time like this, because our common interests are very convergent.”

Giorgia Meloni, head of the Italian government

quoted by AFP

“It is essential that Rome and Paris continue to work both bilaterally and multilaterally”insisted the one who was received for the first time in Paris, referring in particular to European issues.

Several months of tension

Emmanuel Macron, for his part, called for the continuation of the “coordination” bilateral on the subject of migration. “Italy and France can continue to make useful progress in the coming weeks, the next months and the next years”, he declared, before insisting on the necessary “frank, ambitious, demanding dialogue” between the two countries, beyond the “controversies” and “disagreements”.

The migration file has fueled tensions between Paris and Rome in recent months. In November, Italy thus refused to welcome the humanitarian ship ocean viking and the 230 migrants on board, pushing France to let it dock while denouncing the behavior “unacceptable” from Rome. In the spring, Gérald Darmanin had aroused Meloni’s ire by believing that she was “unable to resolve the migration issues on which she was elected”.