French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said after their meeting in Rome last night that their countries would work together for a stronger Europe, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Meloni welcomed Macron at the "Chigi" palace after receiving Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Reuters notes that there was tension between the Italian Prime Minister and the French head of state on the issues of Ukraine, trade and relations with the US.
Meloni's warm welcome for Macron was interpreted as a sign of new diplomatic rapprochement, on the other hand, points out DPA.
The French president wanted to make sure that he and the Italian prime minister were able to move forward together, the Elysee Palace said in a statement quoted by DPA.
"The meeting highlighted the clear similarities in the European agenda for competitiveness and prosperity, with the goals to be implemented ambitiously and quickly", reads the joint declaration of the leaders of Italy and France, cited by Reuters.
The statement mentions that Mellon and Macron reached an agreement on "the necessary conditions for European companies to compete on an equal footing".
The two also agreed on a bilateral meeting in France early next year, Reuters added.