"This is my first state visit to Germany, it is not only a co-founding country but an essential partner for Italy. We are going through a phase of great collaboration between our countries. Our economies are closely connected", said the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella during the joint press conference after his meeting with the German President Frank-Walter SteinmeierThe head of state is in Germany, a country that has just decided to close the Schengen borders and where the Far-right party AfD tops polls, reaching an alarming 30%. In short, a delicate moment.
Mattarella, who will meet Scholz He will shortly conclude his visit to Germany on Sunday 29 September, when he will be in Marzabotto with Steinmeier to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Nazi massacre.
Germany and Italy 'stand firm alongside Ukraine'
THEUkraine was at the center of the conversations between our head of state and the German president. On this matter, the two share a "common" and "clear" attitude: Germany e Italy “remain firmly at Ukraine's side,” the German president said. Mattarella echoed him: “We are looking for a conclusion to this reckless Russian adventure against Ukraine but peace does not mean submission and abandonment of the principles of dignity of each State and international law". "Therefore - added the head of state - supporting Ukraine is essential to defend peace and prevent this reckless adventure from being followed by others that would drag the world" towards total war.
Mattarella: “Governing the migratory phenomenon in an orderly manner”
Many issues on the table, including the migrants: “The issue of migration – he said – is at the centre of attention, of governments and public opinion. And we are looking for ways to govern this epochal phenomenon. How to govern it in an orderly manner. He thus proposes a method to address the situation: “I would like to point out that some industrial associations are organising training courses for African countries: it is a positive form of direction. We will solve the problem when we are able to have inputs regular, taking the human market out of the hands of traffickers."
Mattarella: “The anti-democratic right offers deceptive answers”
The president reiterates the need to regain the trust of citizens, defining this as the main path to dry up the sources that feed the far right in Europe: "I am not entitled to express an opinion on political forces, but I can say one thing. The world is changing a lot: work, communication, economy. All these changes are changing the way countries around the globe interact, with strong migratory movements. But Mattarella warns: "All this disorients public opinion and some propose an easy but deceptive answer, 'we will take you back to the golden age of sixty years ago'. But the world does not go back. A serious answer is to address problems in a constructive way to govern them positively". A clear attack on the politics of slogans that the right likes so much.
Mattarella, with Meloni Rome-Berlin relations unchanged
A journalist asks if the relations between Rome and Berlin with the arrival of the center-right government of Giorgia Meloni. “No,” replies Mattarella. “They have not changed. Both because they are so solid that they can overcome the various changes, and because the good relationship is objective, as demonstrated by the Plan signed last year between the two governments and yesterday's phone call between the Prime Minister and Chancellor Scholz". Steinmeier agrees: "I believe, from my perception, that the collaboration between the two governments is proceeding in a very professional manner".
