Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron at Palazzo Chigi for a bilateral meeting in view of the signing of the Quirinal Treaty on Friday 26 November. After the face to face between the two leaders (which lasted an hour), the meeting expanded to ministers and delegations.
Mattarella: cooperation for a stronger EU
In the afternoon Macron was received at the Quirinale, welcomed by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. After the interview, Macron moved to Palazzo Chigi to meet Mario Draghi. Then at 9 pm he returned to the Quirinale for the dinner offered by Mattarella.
«The strengthened cooperation between Italy and France – underlined Mattarella meeting the French president in the afternoon – must have the objective of bringing the necessary ambition within the EU. The European dimension is the key element in a phase in which we are called to overcome the crisis linked to the pandemic and to restart with renewed enthusiasm to successfully face the great challenges of the ecological and digital transition. The many measures envisaged to strengthen dialogue and cooperation and stimulate common initiatives are an investment in the common future of Italy and France ”.
For the Italian head of state, “the signing of the treaty for enhanced bilateral cooperation is an important result, a far-reaching text. It is a Treaty that unites two founding countries of the European Union that share the commitment to build the great European project. A stronger relationship between Italy and France contributes to building a stronger EU, all the more necessary today in the face of challenges that only a more integrated Europe can face, as the pandemic crisis has highlighted ”.
The delegations
Foreign Ministers Luigi Di Maio, Interior Ministers Luciana Lamorgese, Defense Lorenzo Guerini, Economy Daniele Franco, Economic Development Giancarlo Giorgetti and EU undersecretary Enzo Amendola also participate in the extended bilateral agreement between Draghi and Macron. On the French side, ministers Jean-Yves Le Drian (Foreign), Bruno Le Maire (Economics), Florence Parly (Defense), Gérald Darmanin (Internal), Undersecretary Clément Beaune (European affairs) were present.