Merz and Meloni strengthen cooperation
At the German–Italian government consultations in Rome, one of the key issues in focus is the growth of the EU internal market.
Rome (dpa) – Strengthening the economy, closer cooperation on defence issues and migration policy are at the heart of the German–Italian government consultations taking place today. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz flew directly from the EU summit in Brussels to Rome overnight, where he is being received by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni together with ten ministers.
Merz and Meloni already discussed on Thursday evening in Brussels how relations with the United States should proceed following the temporary escalation in the Greenland conflict.
The two heads of government are also united by the aim of curbing illegal migration as far as possible. Germany and Italy are likewise pulling in the same direction on the issue of economic competitiveness. During their talks, the two governments intend to submit proposals for the EU special summit on this issue on 12 February.
A joint paper envisages a deepening of the EU internal market with its some 450 million consumers, shorter approval procedures for businesses and citizens, and the repeal of a number of regulations. The aim, it says, is to ensure “growth, strategic autonomy and reduced vulnerability to external shocks”.
Germany and Italy hope that a deeper internal market will give their own gross domestic products a growth boost of two to three percent, and even two to three times that amount for some other EU member states.
