Costa meets Meloni: Italy's EU priorities noted

Building the preconditions for a first thaw between Rome and Brussels. The President of the European Council in pectore Antonio Costa came to Italy in the aftermath of the cconfirmation of Ursula von der Leyen at the head of the Commission and (above all) with the opposition of Giorgia Meloni's party. A vote against that, last June, Italy also certified on Costa himself, chosen favourably, instead, by all the other member states. The Portuguese is known for his inclusive attitude and for being a politician with firm positions but always in favour of dialogue. "It was a very good working meeting. Now it is important for me to assess what the perspectives and priorities of the various members of the EU are and since Italy is a founding country of the Union, it is important to know and take note of Prime Minister Meloni's priorities,' summarised the newly appointed President of the European Council at the end of an hour-long meeting at Palazzo Chigi with the Prime Minister.

The mission to Italy - the first stage of a European tour that includes the former Lusitanian prime minister - is therefore a further sign of the modus operandi that Costa might have when, from next December, he will head the European Council. The topics on the table during the meeting with Meloni were diverse, but on one point the former premier has already been clear over the past few days: despite the vote against, on his part there is every willingness to collaborate with Rome. At the centre of the talks," Palazzo Chigi said, "were the priorities of EU action for the next institutional cycle, starting with the main crisis scenarios at the international level and the issues of competitiveness and the management of migratory flows. "At the same time, the working methods of the European Council were discussed, with the aim of further enhancing its role and effectiveness". The President of the Council reiterated her best wishes for the good work of Costa and expressed her appreciation for his intention to ensure a shared and pragmatic leadership of the European Council.

What brings the President of the European Council and Meloni closer together is support for Ukraine. For Meloni, the meeting was in fact, implicitly, a way to avert the danger of isolation of her government, which, in fact, voted against the three highest EU offices. In the coming weeks, the prime minister will also talk again with von der Leyen, in view of the indication of the two profiles - a man and a woman - for the role of commissioner. Meloni is convinced that FdI's vote did not cut the legs off the negotiations for a heavyweight delegation.

At the moment it seems really complicated for Italy to get an executive vice-presidency. The commissioner for the budget and the Pnrr remains perhaps the maximum objective to which the government can aspire, without disdaining the Cohesion or De-bureaucratisation portfolios as alternatives. Meloni 'did not agree on the programme, but has ample room to negotiate on the roles in the committee and has us, in the EPP, representing the second force in the government,' explained Antonio Tajani. The foreign minister, however, has an uphill road ahead of her: in the Populars there are those who, after the vote in the Euro Chamber, would like to push Meloni to the sidelines in the name of a majority with pro-European traction and impervious to the influences of the sovereignist parties.