Mattarella-Macron, phone call on the Italy-France crisis: “We need total collaboration” – Corriere.it

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, had with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, a telephone interviewin the course of which they both affirmed the great importance of the relationship between the two countries and they shared the need for conditions of full collaboration to be put in place in every sector both bilaterally and in the European Union. This is what we read in a note from the Colle. The Elysée also issued a note which underlines “the great importance of relations between France and Italy”. The joint initiative of the two heads of state aims to “detoxify” the diplomatic climate.

Telephone conversation between the President #Mattarella ?? and the President of the French Republic #Macron ??: pic.twitter.com/2oKp1zTWEF

– Quirinale (@Quirinale) November 14, 2022

The President’s intervention is a consequence of the tensions exploded between the two countries over immigration. Also yesterday the spokesman for the Elysée Olivier Veran had returned to accuse Italy of not having kept the commitments on the subject: “Italy is the loser,” argued Véran – because it normally has a European solidarity mechanism ». Italy had overturned the accusation on France arguing that it was the French government that did not respect the agreements on the relocation of migrants.

The joint Mattarella-Macron intervention could have a immediate reflection on today’s summit in Brussels between the foreign ministers of the 27. Meanwhile, the words of the French undersecretary for European affairs must be recorded Laurence Boone: «I will recall the importance of European unity, of responsibility for human lives and the solidarity of Europeans. And I will take this opportunity to thank the eleven countries that help France to welcome refugees who arrived last weekend, ”he said upon his arrival in Brussels. Meanwhile, it is confirmed that today it is not expected no bilateral meeting between Italy and France. This was also confirmed by the Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani.

(article being updated)