Italian head of government: “I am no longer allergic to Germany” Council of States: Commission wants to relax rules for Swiss arms re-export

The German federal government wants to work closely with the new Italian leadership under right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. They work together “very intensively”, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Friday after Meloni’s first visit to the chancery. The action plan already planned with the previous government to deepen relations would be completed unchanged.

Meloni, who had spoken in her opposition role about an allergy to Germany, struck a conciliatory tone. “I have no idea when I should have said that,” she said when asked about this statement. She said only once that she had not learned German. “But not because I’m allergic,” emphasized the party leader of the far-right Fratelli d’Italia.

In April 2019, Meloni said in a newspaper interview that she had learned Spanish and French. She tried German but failed, although she was a “nerd”. “I’m allergic to Germany, even when it comes to books,” Meloni explained at the time.

Meloni has been in office for about three months now. Fears that it could pose a threat to European cohesion have not yet been confirmed. During her visit to Berlin, however, she reiterated her hard-line policy to curb migration to Europe. When it comes to responsibility and solidarity, the decision should not be left to the smugglers, she said.

On the subject, Scholz stressed that those who have the right to stay in Europe should be able to stay. Europe needs immigration, the chancellor said, referring to the shortage of skilled workers.

The Ministry of the Interior in Rome annually registers tens of thousands of boat migrants arriving in Italy via the Mediterranean. However, many of them are still moving to the north of Europe. According to Meloni’s idea, people should already apply for asylum in North Africa, from where they usually leave, to determine whether they can legally come to Italy.

Scholz described the economic transformation plan presented by the European Commission as the basis for discussions at the upcoming EU summit. Europe must permanently take a leading position in the green transformation, he stressed. At the same time, the chancellor warned of a global subsidy race, referring to a US subsidy program worth billions for companies that produce there.

Meloni has ruled Italy since late October. Right from the start, she made it clear in a speech in parliament that Italy would remain a “reliable partner” in NATO. She condemned the Russian war in Ukraine: “We must not accept the war of aggression and the violation of the territorial integrity of a sovereign nation.”

Meloni and her right-wing government have been in office for just over 100 days. Some observers have not seen a clear course so far. “Meloni’s first 100 days in office have been marked by very cautious moves on sensitive issues such as relations with Brussels, public finance management and support to Ukraine,” said political expert Wolfango Piccoli. It is still unclear what she actually stands for. Your government has not done much so far.

So far there has been no discernible break in Italian foreign policy – not even on Ukraine, SPD foreign policy expert Nils Schmid told newspapers of the Funke media group (Friday). At the same time, Schmid called for vigilance. The chairman of the European Commission in the Bundestag, Anton Hofreiter, warned not to be misled by a reserved attitude. “Meloni is still the representative of a post-fascist party that takes far-right positions,” said the Green politician. (sda/dpa)