Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the leader of the German CDU parliamentary group, Friedrich Merz, met today in Rome and agreed on the need for the European Union to strengthen its strategic autonomy, boost industrial competitiveness—particularly in the automotive sector—and deepen cooperation among member states in key areas such as defense, energy, and migration.
“We must build a strong Europe, capable of competing at the international level and endowed with its own strategic autonomy,” Meloni said after the one-on-one meeting.
She stressed that the EU must now decide whether it wants to become the protagonist of its own future or wait for others to decide on its behalf.
Merz, for his part, noted that after 75 years of diplomatic relations, Italy and Germany are closer than ever and should further strengthen Europe’s security and competitive capabilities.
“Europe must focus on key issues such as Ukraine, energy, and fight for a strong NATO that does more in the Arctic,” he said.
In a joint statement, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the transatlantic relationship between Europe and the United States, grounded in shared values and interests. They also emphasized respect for international law, including territorial integrity and sovereignty, referring to the situations in Ukraine and Greenland.
As part of the Italian-German action plan, Rome and Berlin agreed to support US efforts to end the war in Ukraine and advance the peace process in Gaza.
The meeting was followed by a gathering of Italian and German business representatives, held on Friday evening at one of Rome’s leading hotels.
