Italy outraged after report suggests Germany dropped it as priority
A media report suggesting the German government has downgraded the importance of diplomacy with Italy has caused a stir in Rome, shortly before new Chancellor Friedrich Merz departs for his first visit to the country since taking office.
The conservative daily Die Welt reported on Thursday that an early draft of the new German government's coalition agreement listed Italy as an important partner and member of an expanded European axis, alongside France and Poland.
In the final agreement, however, Rome is no longer mentioned in this context. According to the newspaper, the change was reportedly at the insistence of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Merz's coalition partner.
Several high-ranking Italian politicians expressed outrage at the news. "This is an anti-European decision by the German Social Democrats," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
A spokesman for the German Foreign Office denied the report, stating that Italy is welcome as a member of the so-called Weimar Plus format.
Italy has recently attended several meetings of the group, which is an extension of the Weimar Triangle diplomatic forum with representatives from Germany, France and Poland.
The spokesman did not comment on the evolution of the coalition agreement. Deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer emphasized that Italy was a high priority for the federal government and that there was "very close contact" with Rome in a wide variety of formats.
An SPD spokesman said on request that Italy was "an important partner" and that the issue had not played a role among the chief negotiators of the coalition deal.
Cooperation between the two countries is sure to be a topic of conversation on Saturday, when Meloni is set to receive Merz in Rome.
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