Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron insisted Tuesday on the necessary "dialogue" between the two countries, after a series of crises around immigration.
"Italy and France are two linked nations, two important, central, protagonist nations in Europe that need dialogue at a time like this because our common interests are very convergent," said Giorgia Meloni, received for the first time in Paris.
"It is essential that Rome and Paris continue to work both bilaterally and multilaterally," she insisted, referring in particular to European issues.
The need for a "frank, ambitious, demanding dialogue"
Emmanuel Macron for his part called for continued bilateral "coordination" on the migration issue. "Italy and France can continue to make useful progress in the coming weeks, months and years," he said.
He also insisted on the need for "frank, ambitious, demanding dialogue" between the two countries, beyond "controversies, disagreements".
The migration issue has fuelled tensions between Paris and Rome in recent months.
In November, Italy refused to take in the humanitarian ship Ocean Viking and the 230 migrants on board, prompting the France to let it dock while denouncing Rome's "unacceptable" behavior.
In the spring, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin aroused transalpine ire by judging Giorgia Meloni "incapable of resolving the migration problems on which she was elected".
With AFP
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