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The handshake between the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has already taken place before the cameras, and with more smiles and compliments from both than might be thought a priori. Sánchez is in Rome this Wednesday as part of a European tour prior to the next presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), which Spain will lead from the second semester.
The “reality check” of Meloni’s first 100 days, between reversals, continuity and friction with allies
Further
Sánchez’s appointment with Meloni was of special interest because of the political and ideological positions that are so distant between the two leaders, and because of the migratory issue that concerns Spain and Italy as ‘gateways’ to Europe. And in Rome, at least apparently, both leaders have shown complicity in this regard. While Meloni has alluded to “convergences” on this and other issues, Sánchez has somehow left the ball in the European court. The President of the Government described the future EU Migration and Asylum Pact as an “important step”, and added: “Irregular migration is a European problem that requires a European response”.
Negotiate “with the countries of origin and transit”
Sánchez has pointed out the need for a “political” response, but also endowed with economic resources, to “deal with irregular migration”, he said. According to the president, Spain and Italy share the perspective that it is convenient to “talk less about the internal dimension and more about the external dimension” of migration, and he has defended dialogue more “with the countries of origin and transit” from the European position . Let’s remember that Meloni has always maintained a harsh anti-immigration discourse, and that as soon as he came to the Italian government, he imposed new obstacles to the NGOs that rescue migrants at sea.
On the other hand, both leaders have also spoken of the need to “redefine the fiscal rules in Europe”, a step that should be taken this year, according to the words of President Sánchez. Pedro Sánchez stated that “when Italy and Spain work together, good things happen for our societies and for the EU”, recalling how the “chimera” of European funds became a reality as a result of the pandemic, and thanks to perseverance from countries like Italy and Spain. In addition, he has insisted that “competitiveness today is based on having cheap energy prices.” Sánchez stressed that you cannot “pay at the price of caviar for energy that costs us much cheaper with renewables”, so he advocates “a profound reform of the European market”.
It is necessary to redefine the fiscal rules in Europe
Meloni, for her part, has highlighted the “harmony” that exists between the two countries and has emphasized how “bilateral unions with Spain have been strengthened in recent months” on issues such as energy or culture, which the Italian considers ” fundamental”. “We are two very similar Mediterranean countries, very close, who understand each other when they speak. We want to promote that relationship”, assured the far-right.
This has been the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders since Giorgia Meloni took office as Prime Minister in October 2022. Although Meloni’s image in Spain will always be associated with Vox and her intervention at a rally with Santiago Abascal and Macarena Olona In Marbella, today Meloni has been very cordial and close to President Sánchez, whom she has thanked on several occasions for this meeting. Sánchez, likewise, has not hesitated to address her as “dear Giorgia” and “dear president” during the institutional declaration that they have offered from Rome.
