By Gifts Antoniou

The range of issues to be discussed at today’s meeting of the Prime Minister, Kyriakou Mitsotakiswith his Italian counterpart, GeorgiaIn Rome, in itself, he explains why in Athens and the Prime Minister’s staff they consider the meeting particularly important. For the internal news, the issue of the railways is very important and the securing of Rome of a meaningful message that the will to upgrade the safety and quality of the rail transport is in response and a common walking on the part of the Hellenic Train. In the big picture, the agenda of the Mitsotakis -Meloni meeting includes a number of critical issues, in which either a common gait is sought, as Greece and Italy, as the Mediterranean EU Member States. They face common challenges, or it is appreciated as a vulnerabilities of the approach to avoid future arrhythmias.

In relation to the railways and the Hellenic TrainDeputy Minister of Transport, Konstantinos Kyranakis, was in Rome a few days ago and had a series of contacts with Italian government officials and Ferrovie Dello Stato, the state -owned Italian Railway Company, which is a parent’s motherboard. A radio silence was kept for the results of the visit, referring to the announcements that will take place after the Mitsotakis -Meloni meeting.

Athens is calling for investments of 300m euros to upgrade the rolling stock and quality of services. Among the issues raised by the Italian side is that the network upgrades should be completed first. It is considered, however, that the climate between the two sides is good and that there is a positive approach and a willingness to resolve all pending.

Common challenges

In the category of cutting -edge issues in the Mediterranean zone, migration is undoubtedly one of the cutting -edge issues, in which the two countries are called upon to manage common challenges as key gates of input of migratory flows in Europe and as existing the greatest pressure. In addition, regional challenges for security in the wider region, with the two countries defending their role as pillars of stability.

Connectability for energy networks, at a time when energy security is evolving into a top priority, as the recent Black Out in Spain has shown, is also a high priority sector for the two countries. Transfers and civil protection cooperation, as there are common challenges from the threats of the climate crisis, are areas that have an upgraded priority.

A crucial and difficult issue is that of European defense and overall defense cooperation. Athens carefully watched the recent visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Rome. Ankara is seeking participation in Europe’s new defense program and this has become clear during his visit to the Italian capital, where the climate was particularly warm, with dense references to agreements and cooperation with the defense, financial and energy sectors.

Athens has stated in all its tones that any debate to upgrade Turkey’s role in relation to the context of European defense and security cannot be taken without taking into account the sensitivities and concerns of all Member States and without guarantees the Turkish provocation.

The issue of Europe’s competitiveness, in the light of the new data shaped by the American economic policy, is also one of the central issues of European interest to be discussed.

Bilateral cooperation

Concerning bilateral relations, government sources emphasize that within the Supreme Cooperation Council that will take place today in Rome, it will be confirmed that the prospects of cooperation are many and that interesting and mutually beneficial agreements can arise. The previous Supreme Cooperation Council between the two countries was held in 2017 in Corfu. The Prime Minister’s Rome will be accompanied today by Foreign Ministers George Gerapetritis, Defense Nikos Dendias, Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis, Development Takis Theodorikakos, Rural Development Kostas Tsiaras Kyranakis and Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos.