Relaxed atmosphere on the occasion of the official visit of the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in Paris to its French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Relations between the two have been good for years, so much so that in moments of tension with Europe fueled by the sovereign attitudes of the Conte 1 government, Mattarella had been one of the proponents of diplomacy, playing the role of "firefighter" several times and making friends especially with Macron. This time there is no need to patch up, because the understanding between the transalpine president and Mario Draghi is already excellent, as we saw at the recent G20 and the European Council: an axis, the one between France and Italy, which the visit of Mattarella has strengthened, in view of the treaty that will be signed in the autumn by the two governments, to regulate many areas of industrial and cultural relations between the two countries. A crucial stage for Italy to catch up with the already solid Paris-Berlin axis and to play an increasingly important role in the European game, starting with the policies of the Next Generation EU.
Another central theme of the meeting was migrants, and international politics in general. “In Italy – Mattarella said harshly speaking at the Elysée, and alluding to a strength of the government majority – someone is under the illusion that a sign prohibiting entry from Africa can be put up. Support for Africa is a necessity, as well as a historical obligation of solidarity". The Head of State reiterated that Africa must be helped concretely to prevent people from leaving their country and thus stop migration: “In 20 years, according to demographers, Africa will have three times as many inhabitants as Europe. It is a challenge that we must take up because it could become an explosive topic”. Of course, Macron agrees perfectly, who nevertheless admitted that “on Libya there have been frictions and tensions between Italy and France in the past. Now we are working closely together, and we are having initial results even if there are still Turkish and Russian reticence, we must continue to apply pressure. The important thing is to work on the G20, vaccines, and the African agenda. I thank Italy for the Sahel commitment in the Takuba force. We are repositioning the mission to focus on counter-terrorism."
So a new phase can finally be opened for migrants, already sanctioned by a pact Macron-Draghi in May. Mattarella and Macron have indicated a route that remains an alternative to the sovereign temptations of the cartels of the local right of Salvini, Meloni and Orban. Collaboration, multilateralism, solidarity and the heart in Europe: the pandemic has taught us that no one is saved alone.
