Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday said
"we know what we need to do" in Europe, now the "point is
whether we want to give member states the necessary resources -
this is the real debate", rriving at an informal European
Council meeting in Budapest.
"I don't know whether concrete solutions will be reached this
morning, but it is the central element", she noted.
Speaking about Tuesday's presidential election in the United
States, Meloni stressed Europe should take stock and evaluate
itself.
"I think Europe should find a solution and assess itself.
"It looks like we are discovering issues today, I am thinking
about competitiveness, tariffs.
"However, I remember that the debate on European competitiveness
is a debate that started months ago in the wake of the Inflation
Reduction Act.
"If we wanted to say this quoting American presidents - ask not
what the United States can do for you, ask what Europe can do
for itself, which is this morning's debate", said Meloni.
The US measure last year sparked concern in Europe that it could
shift investments to the United States, threatening EU
competitiveness.
The European Commission responded in February 2023 with its
Green Deal Industrial Plan to the US Inflation Reduction Act
(IRA), with increased levels of state aid to help Europe compete
as a manufacturing hub for clean tech products.
Meloni on Friday also said Tesla and X owner Elon Musk is an
added value and potential interlocutor, speaking to reporters
ahead of a gathering of the European Political Community.
Musk is "an added value of our time and a possible
interlocutor", the Italian prime minister said.
Meloni talked to Musk on Thursday following Donald Trump's
victory in Tuesday's presidential election in the United States.
The world's richest man was a big supporter of Trump's campaign.
And speaking about the war in Ukraine, Meloni also said ahead of
Friday's gathering that "Ukrainians have had extraordinary
courage, the West has supported Ukraine and I thinks this is the
element that makes the difference".
"We will see how the scenario evolves in the coming weeks, but I
stress that, until there is a war, Italy will be beside
Ukraine", said Meloni.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
