Rome – Should the war in the Middle East escalate further, “we would have to give serious consideration to a European response.” Speaking in Parliament during an urgent briefing on the government’s actions, Giorgia Meloni returns to the subject of Brussels, comparing the current crisis to the pandemic years and suggesting that Europe adopt a similar approach: “It should not be taboo to consider a possible temporary suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact,” she states. The Prime Minister is not considering an exemption for individual Member States, but a generalised measure.
However, the condition for triggering the general safeguard clause should be a severe economic recession in the euro area or in the European Union as a whole, noted EU Commissioner for the Economy Valdis Dombrovskis during a hearing before the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic Affairs, emphasising that “We are not currently in this situation.” The potential economic impact of the war on the Union does indeed point to a slowdown in growth, but not a severe recession. “Obviously, we are continuing to monitor the situation, and we must now respond appropriately, based on the actual situation,” the Commissioner clarified.
In response to the energy crisis, Italy remains “ready to implement every possible measure to prevent speculative behaviour, including, if necessary, further action regarding the profits of energy companies,” the Prime Minister stated. She was the first among EU and NATO leaders to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar on the eve of Easter. “I wanted to express Italy’s solidarity and support to them, but I also worked to secure energy supplies, particularly oil, which are essential from a region that provides around 15 per cent of our national requirements,” she explains. It is in the same spirit that she has already travelled to Algeria to agree on an increase in natural gas supplies to Italy. And it is in this spirit that she will soon visit Azerbaijan as well.
On the subject of energy, Meloni highlighted the “substantial” decree approved by the Council of Ministers to bring about a structural reduction in costs, which has “displeased the major energy companies but has been warmly welcomed by the business community.” And regarding the measure on fuel costs, she announced that it will be adjusted as the peace negotiations progress and that a clear timeframe for the required actions will be provided.
In Europe, Italy’s focus is primarily on supporting competitiveness, streamlining bureaucracy, and a “green transition that is realistic rather than ideological, and on achieving a balanced strategic autonomy that gradually reduces our dependencies.” But also on a defence capability that “does not make us dependent on our American allies.” On this point, the Prime Minister rejects accusations of subservience: “Italy’s position on the Iranian crisis has been exactly the same as that of the main European countries,” she makes clear. Furthermore, Meloni emphasises her distance from Donald Trump on various issues. Starting with NATO, which the US President threatens to abandon daily. And then there are the tariffs, repeatedly described as “a wrong choice that we did not agree with,” or the Italian soldiers in Afghanistan, who were “unacceptably labelled as ‘useless’.” Italy has also opposed American ambitions regarding Greenland, participating in every European document defending the integrity of its territory and the sovereignty of its people.
Finally, on Ukraine, “in the face of proposals for negotiations that we did not consider viable.” We must therefore work to keep the two sides of the Atlantic united, the Prime Minister argues, but also “make it clear when we disagree.” Meloni clearly states that she has also spoken with Israel, having Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summon the ambassador following the attack on an Italian UNIFIL vehicle, described as “unacceptable”. On the domestic front, following the political upheaval in the wake of the referendum on justice, Meloni swears there will be no cabinet reshuffle: “Those are the political manoeuvres of a world dear to other majorities,” she quips. Moving forward for the full five years of the term with an executive “determined to do its best, even better, right up to the very last day.” When, once again, “it will be at the ballot box and not in the corridors of power that another government will be formed”.
In collaboration with GEA Agency.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
