(Typo corrected in 1st paragraph, “Scholz”.)
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – The governments of Germany and Italy will meet for joint consultations this Wednesday for the first time since 2016. The meeting of ministers in the Federal Chancellery in Berlin will be chaired by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“Action plan” is intended to deepen relationships
According to the federal government, a joint “action plan” is to be signed. This had already been arranged with Meloni’s predecessor Mario Draghi in December 2021 in order to deepen relations between the two countries.
The idea followed a friendship treaty previously signed between Italy and France with the aim of both states to work more closely together on issues such as the economy, security and migration policy. Details on the specific content of the now planned German-Italian agreement were not known in advance.
Dispute over migration policy
Meloni and her right-wing nationalist party Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) have been ruling the country since the end of October 2022, together with the conservative party Forza Italia and the right-wing populist Lega. The politician came to government with the promise of getting irregular immigration under control. In fact, more boat refugees are likely to arrive in Italy across the Mediterranean this year than ever before.
There had recently been a dispute with Berlin over German financial aid for non-governmental organizations that rescue boat migrants from the Mediterranean in order to then bring them ashore in Italy. Meloni complained about this in a letter to Scholz in September.
Meanwhile, more conciliatory tones again
At the beginning of October, after a long dispute, the EU states agreed on a common position on the so-called crisis regulation in the planned European asylum reform. Afterwards there were more conciliatory tones between Germany and Italy. At a meeting between Scholz and Meloni on October 6th on the sidelines of an informal EU summit in Granada, Spain, both of them referred to the “excellent cooperation” between Berlin and Rome, it was said from Meloni’s official residence.
Government consultations – i.e. meetings between heads of government and several ministers from both sides – only take place with close partner countries or countries that are particularly important for Germany, such as China, India or Brazil. The most recent meeting with the Italian government took place seven years ago in Maranello, northern Italy.
Video link with Putin
But things should get interesting beforehand: Scholz will welcome Meloni to the Chancellery shortly before 1 p.m. Both will then join the virtual conference of G20 heads of state and government at the end of the Indian presidency. According to Moscow state television, Russian President Vladimir Putin will also take part. He may also see Western leaders there live in an online format for the first time in a long time.
At the last in-person summit of the G20 after the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Putin was represented by his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Putin./jr/DP/men