'Given the size of the German economy and the importance of Germany in Europe, what happens in the coming weeks will directly influence the European political debate. We will vote on 23 February and this will be an important appointment not only for German voters, but for all European citizens," Italy's ambassador to Berlin Armando Varricchio told ANSA on the sidelines of the ambassadors' conference at the Farnesina.
"As far as our country is concerned, it has been an extremely important year in Germany, from the point of view of political relations, economic relations and cultural relations," Varricchio explained. "At the beginning of the year we were protagonists at the great Berlin Film Festival and we ended the year with our participation as guests of honour at the largest publishing fair, the one in Frankfurt. Political relations saw the entry into operation of the Action Plan Pact signed exactly one year ago by Prime Minister Meloni and Chancellor Scholz, an organic set of commitments that provide for a strengthening of cooperation in the political field, the economic field, and the field of civil society. We work very well together both bilaterally and in addressing major challenges. There is no topic on the international agenda on which Italy and Germany do not have almost identical positions'.
Speaking of the economy, the ambassador recalls that Germany 'has confirmed itself as our leading economic partner by far, with 164 billion in trade. But Germany is not just a market: for us it is the essential partner of our industry; Italian industry and German industry are closely linked. For us, it means facing together with Germany the challenges of our time, which have to do above all with the magic word that is called recovery of industrial competitiveness'.
"In 2025 we will have to work together to develop an industrial policy that puts manufacturing back at the centre. We want to remain great manufacturing countries: where there is industry there is development, employment. There are social guarantees. There is the resilience of our systems. We have to work hard on this and then together we have to face global challenges. Starting with immigration: we must make sure that the new European pact for asylum immigration becomes a reality. We have worked in recent years to make Germany fully understand. I believe we have succeeded, making it clear that no country can be left alone to deal with the immigration phenomenon. We have to work together, regardless of whether the migrants come from the Mediterranean route or the Eastern route or the Balkan route,' the ambassador concluded.
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