Italy and Germany join together to form a strategic axis in Europe, in the midst of conflicts with Trump

Opens a new phase of collaboration between both countries, which aim to strengthen an axis that is becoming more solid to face the automobile crisis and trade tensions. The objective is to achieve a common line, including in the reforms of the European institutions.

The results of the measures that will be announced this afternoon will be presented to the European Council. Before the start of the negotiations, there will be a meeting between the two heads of government, the Italian Giorgia Meloni and the German premier Friedrich Merz, to review the ten agreements reached.

A protocol for an Action Plan on strategic cooperation will be signed. Also an agreement on security and defense.

Italy and Germany have a common position and rely on bilateral exchanges that in 2024 exceeded 153 billion euros.

The meeting will also ratify the priority attributed to the energy sector.

In his speech at the meeting in Davos, Switzerland, German Premier Friedrich Merz announced that “with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni we have formulated a series of proposals that we will face; we will put a stop to bureaucracya modernized balance sheet of the European Union and a discontinuity for legislative work.”

The ambition is to consolidate a plan for European competitiveness already in place and which will be approved today at the bilateral summit that will take place at Villa Pamphili.

These ideas will be presented by Germany and Italy at the meeting of European leaders scheduled for February 12.

The “Corriere della Sera” advanced the content of the final version of the document: “Europe is lagging behind since the early years of 2000. They have expanded the growth differences with the US and Chinawhile competitors increase, increasing their global influence.”

“The time to act is now,” he continues. “This is why Italy and Germany, the two main European manufacturing nations, have agreed on a clear agenda with concrete commitments to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.”

“This priority requires integrated and coherent action to ensure growth, strategic autonomy and less vulnerability to external shocks.”

First of all, “it is about eliminating regulatory barriers, simplifying bureaucracy” and both countries propose “a new omnibus package for authorizations and administrative procedures in all sectors.”

The document delves into the problems of the single market. Italy and Germany maintain that the Commission must simplify European rules on state aid. Rome and Berlin propose creating a European Fund for competitiveness.

At the end of the document, Italy and Germany call for “an ambitious European trade policy that takes into account all economic sectors, including agriculture.” Following the agreement with Mercosur, blocked by the recent vote of the European Parliament, Italy and Germany call for the rapid conclusion of free trade negotiations with India, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and ASEAN.