Sánchez parks criticism of the extreme right on his first date with Meloni: "We want to have the best relationships and ties"
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 this 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 him with the extreme right of Vox. Shaking hands and smiles at an honorable reception at Chigi Palace.
The purpose of the event was to explore meeting points and make visible this 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 links with the Italian government”, Sánchez explained 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 we have found in these months in the Councils of Europe. It is very important for us to see the state of harmony in our countries,” said Meloni. “We want to strengthen our historical ties and roots. We are two Mediterranean countries that understand each other when speaking even though each one speaks its own language. It's a relationship 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.
Giorgia Meloni and Pedro Sánchez review the troops at the Chigi Palace. POOL
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.
“You have to understand what my role is. We are going to have to preside over the EU and that presidency forces me to assume a role of building bridges”, Sánchez explained in this regard in an informal conversation with the journalists who have accompanied him on this trip. “My task is not to look for differences, but meeting points to achieve progress”. The Prime Minister said he was “comfortable” at the meeting with Meloni.
Migration has been one of the issues discussed and one of the points of friction in the relationship between the two countries. 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 more in favor of negative incentives. “Migration is an issue that Europe is paying more attention to today. Defending our borders. After knowing 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”.