Detailed coverage notes in the Italian press the visit of Georgia Meloni on Thursday, which was also confirmed by Athens. As far as immigration is concerned, Italy is under a lot of pressure, with the closed immigration and refugee center of Lampedusa once again overcrowded. Rome and Athens are in favor of the protection of the Union’s external borders, and call for the reinforcement of legal migration flows with combating, at the same time, irregular immigration and human trafficking.

In Italy, after this summer’s record arrivals, mainly from Tunisia, members of the government and local governments insist that Brussels should support the Mediterranean countries of the Union more dynamically.

Italian expectations from the Mitsotakis government

At the same time, regarding the revision of the Stability Pact, the government of Georgia Meloni believes that it is necessary to favor development and public investments. The issue will be discussed in detail with Kyriakos Mitsotakis and according to Italian government sources, in favor of a substantial review a number of elements may work: the period of recession that the German economy is going through, that in June 2024 we will have European elections, as well as that the Spanish rotating presidency of the EU is not opposed to such a development.

“In Meloni’s opinion, the Greek prime minister can act as a bridge between the Euro-group of the European People’s Party and that of the Conservatives”, writes the Italian financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore. “And in general, however, Greece can be an ally of Italy, since in many matters, the interests of the two countries are aligned”, adds the newspaper.

According to information, finally, the two prime ministers are expected to refer to the energy sector, as well as to the entire situation in the wider region of the central and eastern Mediterranean.