Media: Italy, Germany forge new EU alliance as France faces instability

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented an unexpected yet increasingly consequential alliance when they met in Rome to sign a partnership pact, highlighting a potential shift in the European Union’s balance of power. “Italy and Germany are closer than ever before,” Merz declared.

Meloni, once labeled a Eurosceptic populist, has emerged as a pragmatic force in European politics, earning recognition for her deft leadership and Italy’s fiscal consolidation, The Telegraph reports.

 “Meloni is so good. She is fantastic at making the person she speaks to feel like they are the most important person in the room,” said an EU diplomat, noting Italy’s rising influence in the bloc.

The accord, focused on defence, migration, and trade cooperation, reflects a “new centre of gravity inside the EU,” according to Italian officials. At the same time, political and economic instability under Emmanuel Macron has left France appearing increasingly unreliable to Germany. “Can they work with Macron at the moment? Not really. He is leaving office soon and France is unstable. Germans hate instability,” a diplomat said.

Meloni has carefully avoided the optics of supplanting Macron, asserting, “I try to do my part. I am not interested in replacing anyone. I am interested in the great nations of Europe having a dialogue on the great challenges that we face.” Meanwhile, Germany’s top economy, historically an exemplar of fiscal discipline, sees Italy under Meloni as a steadier partner compared with debt-laden France.

Historically, Germany and Italy, founding members of the European Economic Community, symbolized contrasting economic fortunes. Germany’s stability and fiscal rectitude contrasted with Italy’s repeated crises. Meloni has now steadied Italy’s ship, while France faces slowing growth and rising debt, with GDP projected to expand by just 0.9% this year and public debt expected to reach 120% of GDP by 2027, compared with Italy’s 0.8% growth.

By Vafa Guliyeva