ROME (ITALPRESS) – “Europe must have the courage to work in a concrete way to consolidate that European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance that has been talked about for a long time and that must stand side by side with the North American pillar in a perspective of strategic complementarity.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this at Palazzo Chigi in statements to the press after her meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
“NATO remains even more after the entry of Sweden and Finland the cornerstone of our security but it must also have an approach today that is as 360-degree as possible,” Meloni added. “It means 360-degree from the geographical point of view, for Italy it is very important to pay attention to the southern flank in addition to the eastern flank of the Alliance. It means a 360-degree approach also in considering today the concept of threat. It is a much broader concept today than it was in the past. To do that we obviously have to spend more but also be able to increase investment.”
“The efforts that we are all pursuing together” have the goal of “laying the foundation for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. It is only possible for us to achieve this goal if Kiev is given adequate security guarantees to make sure that what we have seen over the past three years does not happen again and that the European nations that feel most threatened can instead feel safe,” Meloni stressed.
“I have always said and I believe that these security guarantees must be realized in the context of the Atlantic Alliance,” the premier added. “I think this is the best framework to guarantee a peace that is neither fragile nor temporary and that averts the risk that Europe could soon fall back into the drama of war. Other solutions seem to me more complex and frankly less effective.”
“I have already said that the choice announced by President Von der Leyen to exclude defense spending from the Stability Pact is a first step. I also think that this first step should be followed by other solutions as well,” Meloni stressed.
“Security also means border security, countering irregular immigration, another subject that we have worked very well together with the Swedish prime minister. From this point of view, there is a great convergence of views,” the Prime Minister said again. “I want to thank Ulf once again both for the work we do together to develop innovative solutions at the European level and for being one of the nations that are supporting the position of the Italian government before the European Court of Justice on the issue of safe countries, also to support the Italy-Albania protocol. The issue of safe countries is crucial not only for Italy and the protocol with Albania, but trivially to be able to pursue a return policy that is more effective. We are working for a European return policy that is more effective, so the knot to untie becomes crucial.”
– IPA Agency Photos –
(ITALPRESS).
