(Finance) – “The EU is called upon to make important economic decisions, to make its supply chains resilient, to support its industries and its ability to be competitive. This recalls the issue of rules, from the Stability and Growth Pact in then. Italy continues to consider the role we give to investment spending on defence, the green and digital transition as fundamental: they give a multiplier that current spending does not give. The two things cannot be considered as if they were the same”. This is what was highlighted by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloniat the end of the meeting with the Prime Minister of Latvia Krisjanis Karinsin Riga.
“On unilateral relations, Italy and Latvia are doing a fantastic job together: ours trade since 2020 has increased by 30%, and I think more can be done, in terms of infrastructure and defense – said la Prime Minister in the joint declarations at the end of the meeting –. There are Italian companies that are working on the great project to unite the three Baltic capitals with the rest of Europe on the railways, there are important investments by Italian companies in the steel sector. With this renewed relationship of ours, even personal, we can do even more and better. And there is a beautiful cooperation in the cultural field. Our universities and research centers work increasingly together, there are important projects on the Technical University of Riga, the main university in Latvia: it will inaugurate the first Italian-Latvian cooperation center, it will expand the teaching of the Italian language and Latvian courses for the Italian community in Riga which is starting to grow. It is the dimension of two nations closely linked on a cultural level, on the defense of identity and tradition, in a time when there is a need for Europe, for our civilization, for our ideas and for not losing the level of rights we have built on our continent. We had a very extensive exchange of views, as has already happened in various meetings of the European Council, we found ourselves sharing many of the fundamental choices that are required of Europe and our nations. It has been 25 years since an Italian prime minister came to Riga on an official visit, I am very happy to have remedied this gap, and I invite the prime minister to Rome whenever he wants, because there are so many subjects on which we are on the same length as ‘wave, starting with the theme of Ukraine”.
The Prime Minister underlined the need for greater investments, at European level, on the defense front. “Ukraine will be at the center of the Vilnius summit, together with security and defense policy. The positions of Italy and Latvia – he said Melons – are essentially identical: we have supported and continue to support Ukraine at 360 degrees, also by working so that Europe can invest more in its own security and defence”.
Share of views with the Prime Minister of Latvia also on the issue of immigration. “On the subject of migration, we agreed. Latvia – he said Melons – has external borders of the EU, it is easier to talk about primary movements instead of discussing secondary ones. Migration management to be addressed unanimously must be managed from the source. Because we are different nations. If we work together to stop illegal immigration, giving equal rights to those who come to live with us when the flows are governed, it is the best way to address this issue”.
The prime minister is expected this evening in Vilnius in Lithuania, where she will participate in the NATO summit from tomorrow. At the center of the summit (which will see the participation of President Volodymyr Zelensky) Russian aggression and support for Ukraine. Italy in Vilnius – diplomatic sources underline – will reiterate its support for simplifying the procedures for Kiev’s accession to the Atlantic Alliance, in line with the support already assured. Rome, it is recalled, guarantees “significant contributions” to the measures to strengthen the “posture of reassurance and deterrence” on the eastern flank and to support the resistance and defense of Ukraine. For this year, Italy continues to ensure its participation in NATO’s high readiness forces with land, air and naval components and assets.
In recalling theimportance of NATO unity against Russian aggressionHowever, Meloni will also draw the attention it needs southern flank: Italy – the sources recall – is among the allies traditionally most in favor of strengthening the Alliance’s partnerships and believes it is “fundamental” to involve and make the states of the enlarged Mediterranean “active subjects of the dialogue” to ensure “greater stability and security” to the whole quadrant. Among the themes at the center of the Vilnius summit also i relations with China. Italy (which must untie the “knot” of the renewal of the Memorandum on the Silk Road with Beijing) will reiterate the need to face the security challenges brought by China in the long term, underlining however that these challenges are not concentrated solely in the Indo quadrant -Pacific, but also in the Euro-Atlantic region, especially through Africa and the Middle East region.