PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Paris on Tuesday, as both leaders aim to address a series of disputes that have strained relations since Meloni assumed office last year.
The meeting between centrist Macron and the leader of Italy’s far-right coalition, the most significant since World War II, seeks to overcome political differences and find common ground. Macron had previously signed a bilateral cooperation treaty with Meloni’s predecessor, Mario Draghi, with whom he enjoyed a close political relationship.
During their discussions, Macron and Meloni will focus on implementing the treaty and preparing for upcoming European Union (EU) and NATO summits scheduled for this month and July. A French presidential official, who preferred to remain anonymous, provided these details.
This visit marks Meloni’s first trip to France since her election in 2022. The two leaders have informally met in Rome previously and held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of international summits.
Relations Between France and Italy
Migration policy has been a contentious issue between France and Italy, highlighted by a November 2022 incident when Meloni refused to allow a humanitarian ship carrying 230 migrants to dock in Italy. France eventually accepted the ship, but tensions arose as Paris criticized Rome’s actions as “unacceptable” and suspended plans to receive 3,500 migrants from Italy. At the time, Meloni characterized France’s reaction as “aggressive” and “unjustified.”
In February, Meloni also criticized Macron for inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Paris on the eve of a European summit, deeming it “inappropriate.”
Aside from their bilateral discussions, Meloni’s visit to Paris includes attending a conference where she will promote Rome’s candidacy to host the 2030 Expo. Rome faces competition from Busan (South Korea), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and Odesa (Ukraine). All bidders seek French support, as evidenced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s recent meeting with Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s scheduled visit to the Elysee on Tuesday.
