Meloni at summit: 'Prioritise energy prices, they undermine competitiveness. Stop financial speculation"
The PM speaks at Alden Biesen Castle just after the co-chaired pre-summit with Friedrich Merz before the retreat on competitiveness
from our Brussels correspondent Manuela Perrone
Key points
"Personally, I have focused on energy prices. We need answers at the national level, like the very articulate measure that we will bring to the Council of Ministers next week. But we also need answers at the European level, because it is the most serious issue that jeopardises competitiveness'. Giorgia Meloni speaks at Alden Biesen Castle just after the prevertice co-chaired with Friedrich Merz before the retreat on competitiveness. And he confirms the priorities of his agenda, anticipated in Il Sole 24 Ore: "We must start with a thorough overhaul of the Ets system and curb financial speculation. Then the Cbam directive must be amended'.
The challenge: making proposals for the March European Council
Meloni then mentions the other main items of the German-Italian letter and the document presented together with Germany and Belgium: single market, simplifications, automotive. On this last point the position is clear: to favour the full implementation of the principle of technological neutrality.
The challenge, today in Belgium, is to present shared proposals in view of the March European Council and 'see if the EU can offer concrete, immediate and effective answers. There is no more time to lose'.
Dialogue with France remains open
Meloni does not tread too lightly on the axis with Merz. She acknowledges the construction of a Italian-German motor on competitiveness and the convergence on economic dossiers, but - she points out - "this does not mean excluding anyone: France took part in the pre-summit". Nineteen countries in all, well over the majority, were present, together with the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen: together with Italia, Germany, Belgium and the European Commission, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Hungary joined. The leaders agreed to meet again in March in the margins of the Council to keep the focus on competitiveness and to help set 'concrete targets and deadlines'.
Eurobond? "I'm in favour, but it's a divisive debate"
However, the premier reiterates the points of distance from the French positions, starting with Italia's 'yes' to the free trade agreements, Mercosur model (opposed by Macron). Provided that Europe stops 'over-regulating' and that 'there is reciprocity': 'Then it is good to open up'. On the eurobonds she is cautious but inclined ("Personally, I am in favour, but it is one of the most divisive debates in Europe"), unlike the closing attitude shown by Merz: "There was no discussion, this meeting was only an inaugural meeting. We will continue to confront each other and work'.
