Mattarella: “It has been difficult so far to involve EU partners on the issue of migrants”

“Up to now it has been difficult to involve EU partners effectively”: on the issue of migrants Sergio Mattarella launches another message in the direction of Brussels. During the talks that took place today at the Quirinale with the Slovenian president Natasha Pirc Musar the Head of State stresses that it is “essential to arrive at a comprehensive European policy on the matter”. The two presidents then agreed to urge the EU to tackle climate change with particular attention to the Mediterranean.

Between Slovenia and Italy there is “great friendship” and “great collaboration”, an “ever growing collaboration on which we count a lot” said Mattarella, welcoming the president Pirc Musar. The Italian president agreed to support the entry of the countries of the Western Balkans into the European Union, also to give greater stability to the region. It is, he said, “a useful political investment and a necessary historical choice”. And he added that it was a “grave mistake to have slowed down the accession process”. The talks also addressed the issue of the protection of linguistic minorities which for Mattarella are “a safeguard of friendship and enrichment between peoples”.

Pirc Musar spoke of the Slovenian minority’s desire to convene the table for minorities at the Italian Interior Ministry. Mattarella supported the proposal, according to Pirc Musar’s cabinet. The president also highlighted the need to address the issue of guaranteed representation of the Slovenian minority in the Italian parliament. Speaking to the press after the meeting, you said that Mattarella “is aware of the importance of Slovenians having permanent representation in the Senate”, but you also reiterated that, for this to happen, the Italian Constitution would have to be changed.