Meloni, Macron postpone Franco-Italian summit What’s behind the decision?

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron have postponed the Franco-Italian summit that was scheduled for early April in Toulouse, a French diplomat told Politico.

According to the diplomat, Meloni requested that the meeting be moved to a period after the G7 summit, set for June 15–17. The request was made on February 12 during a meeting between the two leaders in Belgium.

The diplomat emphasized that the postponement is **not related to the recent public dispute** between Meloni and Macron.

Macron and Meloni have clashed repeatedly on various issues, including migration and the rule of law. Tensions resurfaced last Thursday when Macron criticized Meloni over her comments that the killing of 23-year-old far-right activist Quentin Derancq in Lyon over the past weekend was “a wound for all of Europe.” Meloni said she was “surprised” by Macron’s reaction and clarified that she did not intend to interfere in France’s domestic affairs.

The Toulouse summit was intended to showcase Franco-Italian friendship and to help mend strained relations. Key ministers and leaders were expected to participate to discuss shared political priorities. The last such summit was held in 2020 in Naples.

By Khagan Isayev