Italy and France 'must work together' says Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni arrived in Paris

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00 cross to the French presidential palace. France 24's Clovis Casalie is there.

00:06 They were all smiles for the camera.

00:08 Indeed, François. The two leaders very much keen to play down any tensions and show a

00:16 united front. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, welcoming Georgia Maloney in the

00:22 gardens of the Elysee Palace before a brief statement. Both leaders addressing journalists

00:29 saying that there were few differences between the two leaders. You just heard about the

00:35 tensions. Ever since, really, Georgia Maloney took office last October. This is her first

00:42 visit to France. And we know that they are two very different characters. Same generation,

00:48 but very different policies. Emmanuel Macron seen as progressive, pro-European. Georgia

00:54 Maloney seen as anti-European and far right or at least ultra-conservative. During this

01:00 statement they both said that they had actually the same positions on migration and that is

01:06 work hard with the countries in North Africa to prevent migrants from leaving. The French

01:13 president saying that it was vital, very important for Europe to keep strong borders. And Georgia

01:19 Maloney, of course, very keen on that point. Also, Italy, who has welcomed tens of thousands

01:25 of migrants, notably from Italy in 2023. A lot more, four times more, it seems, than

01:32 in 2022. And then the two leaders also saying that there are strong business ties, strong

01:38 cultural ties. And the French president Emmanuel Macron saying, yes, there have been differences,

01:44 but the common history, those centuries of common history of cultural links between France

01:49 and Italy matter more than anything.

01:51 And Clovis, this visit taking place one week after the death of Maloney's coalition partner,

01:58 Silvio Berlusconi, he was a long-time friend of Vladimir Putin. What Macron does have in

02:05 common with Maloney is they're on the same page when it comes to Ukraine.

02:10 Indeed. On one word on Silvio Berlusconi, President Emmanuel Macron actually opened

02:17 saying that he expressed his deepest condolences for the passing, of course, of Silvio Berlusconi,

02:23 Berlusconi who actually chose Maloney in his government years ago.

02:27 The two leaders, yes, indeed, very much united on the Ukrainian question, stressing their

02:33 joint cooperation in military matters, notably with the air defence system they've come up.

02:40 But the two leaders also saying that Ukraine is vital. Both countries standing behind Ukraine,

02:49 Georgia Maloney saying, for instance, that without taking part in this war, if Ukraine

02:54 wasn't fighting Russia, well, liberty, freedom, the world, there would be more wars and more

02:59 chaos. That's the word she used. In this world, Ukrainians fighting to defend everyone's freedom

03:06 and liberties. Those were the words of Georgia Maloney.

03:10 So yes, Emmanuel Macron, Maloney, very much keen to play down tensions, even though we

03:15 do know that relations have been rocky. So it was a task, maybe not meant a broken relationship,

03:22 but definitely bridge some gaps.

03:24 Clivis Chiesetti reporting live outside the French presidential palace. Many thanks.

Category

Transcript

Recommended