why the corridor must be strengthened – Corriere.it

The exchange between Italy and Germany breaks all the records of the past and the data lends itself to a thousand considerations, both of a political and more purely industrial nature. The political relations between the three sides of what had been identified as the triangle of manufacturing Europe (France, Italy and Germany) mark a path of ups and downs on the monitors. After an initial and worrying mistrust, relations between Rome and Paris are decidedly for the better. Not only was there a clarifying meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni but the consultations between the Ministers of Industry, Bruno Le Maire and Adolfo Urso are carefully scheduled and the dossiers they are working on are rich in strategic content.

Relations with Paris

On the other hand, the legendary Franco-German Rhenish axis, which has always represented the driver of the European Community, is going through a moment of difficulty

and he often benefited from a sort of couple automatism. There are currently different opinions on two important dossiers kept in Brussels: the future of the automotive industry and nuclear energy. To complete the picture and analyze the Berlin-Rome side, it should be noted that the initial agreement on the halt to the EU decision to put the internal combustion engine in default from 2035 is registering a different negotiating position.While the Germans speak actively with Brussels regarding the possibility of inserting synthetic fuels alongside electricity, the Italians focus on biofuels, risking not to bring home the result and to remain with the match in hand.

The data

The reconnaissance on the merry-go-round of the interests of the Triangle’s partners (and the attempts to compose them) could continue indefinitely under the sign of the ups and downs mentioned above. But in this framework, in constant and almost daily evolution, the numbers break in in their own way. They were supplied by the Ahk Italien or the Italian-German Chamber of Commerce. The news, as mentioned, that trade between the two countries seen from Italy reached 168.5 billion in 2022 with an increase of 18.2% on the previous year. Berlin our first export partner which reached 77.5 billion (+15.8%) outpacing the United States and France. Same for imports. We buy German goods for 91 billion (+20.2%) and the second country in the ranking is China with 57.5 billion of our purchases. France follows closely.

The weight of Rome

If the same numbers we look at them from the German side, Italy becomes the seventh country for exports with 87.4 billion (+15.7% on the previous year) surpassed primarily by the United States and France. As far as imports are concerned, Italian goods are in fifth place (72.4 billion and +10.6%) in a ranking dominated by China – a country with which the Germans have kept collaborations open – with over 190 billion.

Lombardy in the lead

If these are the key data, it is interesting to focus the most active regions in the Italo-German exchange. Lombardy stands out with 56.2 billion — a third of total exchanges — followed at a great distance (24.1) by Veneto. Among the most active Lander, the Ahk survey indicates Baden-Wurttemberg which, with 34.2 billion, surpassed Bavaria with 27.8 and North Rhine-Westphalia with 27.4%.

Leading sectors

All sectors that have traditionally represented the heart of trade between the two countries are reported to be growing performances judged important (in monetary terms) by the iron and steel, chemical-pharmaceutical, machinery, agri-food and electronics sectors. On the other hand, the dynamics in terms of volumes are more diversified. Adding up all these data we can however introduce a (not obvious) consideration of a geopolitical nature: the war in Ukraine did not damage the Italian-German partnership.

The complementary contribution

From total complementarity of the two industrial systems speaks Monica Poggio, president of Ahk Italien and CEO of Bayer Italy. Which does not at all see an ancillary role on the Italian side which is also characterized by one participation as a supplier in the large Rhine value chains, above all the automotive sector. I prefer to talk about joint production. In fact, these are very interconnected supply chains and this characteristic concerns the main sectors, from the iron and steel industry to means of transport. In any case, the Italian one is a strategic supply that is located upstream of the value chain. And we had the proof with the pandemic and with the Italian ability to maintain positions despite the fact that the virus had hit Italy first, asymmetrically compromising the performance of our manufacturing. And precisely by virtue of this reasoning, I think a step forward in relations between the two countries would be desirable. A real joint Italian-German plan for industrial policy and energy transition. Under the banner of research and innovation.

The leap in quality

To achieve this objective, bilateral relations between the competent ministers must make a qualitative leap, a bit like Rome is doing with France

. Minister Urso was also recently in Germany and I see an opening. A more continuous practice is necessary, I think we cannot do without it, adds Poggio. But isn’t there the risk that the electric car dossier and the different positions taken in the negotiations with the Von der Leyen commission leave a distance between Rome and Berlin and keep a wound open? Without underestimating the level of political decision-making, I think that in the end it is the choices made from an industrial point of view that count. The large German groups have invested and are investing in the electric car and there is no doubt that that is the way – replies Poggio -. It is also up to us Italians to move to innovate the sector, rather than resisting change.