Meloni hails German-Italian alliance ahead of EU competitiveness summit

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived at Belgium's Alden Biesen castle Thursday expressing optimism that the informal European Union summit on competitiveness would yield tangible outcomes, highlighting intensified coordination between Rome and Berlin as a driving force. "There's certainly a German-Italian driving force on these issues. We're strengthening bilateral cooperation with Germany, but it's not something we're doing against anyone else," Meloni told journalists ahead of the gathering convened by European Council President Antonio Costa.

Three-Pronged Agenda and Pragmatic Approach

Meloni identified energy policy, automotive industry challenges, and administrative simplification as priority sectors requiring immediate "concrete measures." The Italo-German alignment, previewed during a pre-summit bilateral meeting, signals growing convergence between the two largest European economies aimed at overcoming longstanding regulatory inertia within the single market. Meloni explicitly credited Chancellor Friedrich Merz's constructive role, stating, "Merz's role is very positive, and I'm grateful because we're doing a good job."

Draghi's Shadow Looms Over Discussions

The joint initiative explicitly channels the pragmatic reform agenda articulated by former European Central Bank chief and former Italian Premier Mario Draghi, whose comprehensive recommendations on Europe's structural competitiveness deficits remain largely unimplemented. Costa has invited both Draghi and former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta to participate in the informal retreat, underscoring the summit's intellectual debt to Italian strategic thinking. Meloni noted that France has also engaged with the competitiveness working group, suggesting broader continental interest in breaking Brussels' policy paralysis.