Italy and Spain separated by a wide and deep political and ideological gap, but united by a cable that resists unscathed, at least to this day, to temporary conjunctures. Pedro Sánchez walks along that cable, and has walked today in Rome, forced to balance to maintain diplomatic and political relations with a strategic partner, but at the head of which is a leader of the extreme right, Giorgia Meloni. That ultra-right against whose rise the chief executive warns in international forums such as Davos or in Congress, from his role as Spanish president.
Balancing exercise, diplomacy they like to call on executives, because in La Moncloa they defend that the objective of this visit to Meloni is not to contrast models, but to prepare the Spanish Presidency of the EU. That Sánchez travels as president of the Government and not as leader of the PSOE and that, state government sources, defines the framework and tone of his words. Thus, Sánchez today has avoided criticism and his dialectic against the extreme right, which in Spain is a pillar of his struggle with the PP, associating it with the extreme right of Vox. He shakes hands and smiles at an honorable reception at Chigi Palace.
The purpose of the meeting was to explore meeting points and make visible that fund of a united Europe. Philosophy that despite the national approaches may be different, Spain is committed to advancing in consensus and pacts. "Our ties are still alive. My political experience, of course, is that together Italy and Spain make our societies and Europe stronger. Italy will always find that in Spain, which wants to have the best relations and ties with the Italian government," he said. exposed Sánchez in his speech after the meeting with Meloni. "Thank you very much Pedro", she said.
"Italy and Spain have to talk because they share points of view and there are many convergences that these months in the Councils of Europe have found. It is very important for us to see the state of harmony in our countries", Meloni pointed out. "We want to strengthen our ties and historical roots. We are two Mediterranean countries that understand each other when they speak even though each one speaks their own language. It is a relationship that we want to promote."
"When Spain and Italy work together good things happen and we make Europe move", Sánchez added in his speech, which by determination of the Italian Government has been carried out without questions.
Today was not the time, it was not the day, the moment, is what emerges in the Spanish delegation to justify that in the balance today the common visions weigh more on issues such as the open strategic autonomy of Europe, the reform of the energy market or the tax rules. Also regarding the war in Ukraine and support for this country. Meloni has opted, like Sánchez, for a "just peace" that respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The meeting between the two, which also included a working lunch, lasted for more than an hour and a half.
Migration has been one of the issues discussed and one of the points of friction. But in the meeting, both parties have wanted to make visible approximation, understanding, steps, despite the fact that the Italian approach is tougher than the Spanish one. "We agree that what we have to do is talk less about the internal dimension of migration and talk more about the external dimension, about cooperation with the countries of origin and transit," Sánchez explained. "We are countries responsible for controlling our borders, but to that we must add the concept of solidarity, making a balanced approach between solidarity and responsibility."
A line that Meloni has held, despite the fact that his position is tougher and has negative incentives. "Migration is an issue that Europe looks at more closely today. The defense of our borders. After learning about the progress of the European Commission, it is now necessary to see the initiatives that we must carry out, including investments and allocations of funds to cooperate and find structural solutions with the countries of North Africa".
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
