Olaf Scholz Welcomes Giorgia Meloni for Joint Consultations
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meet today for the first time in six years since 2016 for consultations. The two leaders will discuss various topics, including migration policy and strengthening relations between their countries in a joint "action plan."
A Potential Agreement to Deepen Relations
The German government plans to sign a new "action plan" during this meeting, which was initially agreed upon in December 2021 with Mario Draghi, Meloni's predecessor. The purpose of this action plan is to build stronger economic, security, and migration policy ties between Germany and Italy.
Meloni's Government Promises Tougher Migration Policies
Meloni, who leads the right-wing nationalist party Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy), along with the conservative Forza Italia party and the right-wing populist Lega, has been in power since the end of October 2022. She gained office with a promise to control irregular immigration. As a result, analysts predict that more boat refugees will arrive in Italy via the Mediterranean than ever before.
Previous Dispute Over Migration Policy and German Aid
There have been disagreements between Germany and Italy regarding the issue of migration. Meloni expressed concerns about German financial aid to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that rescue boat migrants off the Mediterranean and bring them to Italy, which she addressed in a letter to Scholz in September.
Several EU states agreed on a common stance on the "crisis regulation" in the EU asylum reform in early October, which led to a more conciliatory tone between Germany and Italy.
Important Meetings with Partner Countries
Government consultations only occur between close partner countries or those that are significant to Germany, such as China, India, and Brazil. The most recent meeting with the Italian government took place seven years ago in Maranello.
Vladimir Putin Attends G20 Summit
Both Scholz and Meloni will participate in a G20 Heads of State and Government summit before their meeting in Berlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to join the virtual conference, marking his first appearance with Western leaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Enrichment Data Integration:
Germany has taken steps to secure its borders and curb irregular migration before the German federal election on February 23. The Italian government's insistence on refusing to take back migrants under the Dublin rules has strained relations with Germany and other European countries. The disagreement between the two nations reflects broader EU challenges related to managing asylum claims and irregular migration.
The crisis has led to criticisms from international human rights organizations and legal interventions by the EU Court of Justice. Now, both countries aim to find common ground on migration policy and economic cooperation during the government consultations.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also aims to strengthen economic ties with China, focusing on sectors such as the automotive industry, despite Italy's withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative.
