German-Italian relationship: Scholz and Draghi agree “action plan”

For the first time, Olaf Scholz visited Italy as Federal Chancellor. At his meeting with Prime Minister Draghi, the aim was to intensify cooperation between the two countries – especially with regard to the EU.

Reception in the courtyard of the Palazzo Chigi, the seat of the Prime Minister: Olaf Scholz has often been to Italy as Finance Minister, now for the first time as Federal Chancellor. One thing becomes clear after the meeting with Mario Draghi: The cooperation between the two countries should intensify, especially with regard to the EU.

“It is very important for us that we make great progress in Europe. We need a strong, better Union. And that must and will be discussed,” said Scholz. “Our two countries are of the utmost importance to ensure that this actually works.”

The Chancellor said that they wanted to address many questions together that were important for the future of Europe. “This particularly includes how we manage to stop man-made climate change,” said Scholz. “This is a major industrial modernization project that will only succeed if we manage to invest in modern technologies. The same applies to the question of digitization. This is also central to ensuring that Europe is a continent that will play a role in the world to come plays and is economically strong and can keep up. “

Majority decisions aimed at in the EU Council

In defense policy, too, Prime Minister Draghi made it clear that there should be better coordination. It was agreed that a European defense policy would serve as a complement to NATO. Both heads of government want to have majority decisions in the EU Council in the future, since the unanimity requirement is often a major obstacle.

Specifically, Germany and Italy are working on an “action plan” intended to intensify cooperation. Only recently Italy had signed a friendship treaty with France, according to which they wanted to work more closely on various topics such as the economy, security or migration policy. As soon as the corona pandemic allowed it, the German and Italian governments would meet for consultations.

Italy as an example of a good vaccination campaign

Draghi emphasized how important social cohesion is for the future: “We also have to be close to the families and companies that will be affected by the ecological and to a certain extent also by the digital transformation,” he said. “Social cohesion is indeed a key factor in moving forward on all fronts.”

In dealing with the corona pandemic, Scholz named Italy as a good example of a good vaccination campaign. He would have liked a better vaccination quota for Germany as well, but the current booster campaign is now on the right track.

Need to talk about finances

Another topic on the inaugural visit to Rome was the financial regulations for European countries. The southern European countries in particular, but also France, are pushing for a change in the Maastricht criteria.

The Chancellor referred to what the joint European reconstruction program had already achieved in the face of the corona pandemic: “That is very good, and this answer has already worked before the first money has flowed,” said Scholz. “Because it has contributed to the fact that the trust of the global markets, but also of the economy in this country in our member countries throughout the European Union is so great that no state had insoluble challenges and everyone was able to do what was necessary to to take action against the crisis – with a view to protecting the health of citizens, but also with regard to the economic and social consequences of the corona pandemic. “

Now the plan must be used for investments, said the Chancellor. And that is precisely why cooperation with Italy is so important.