ROME – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed confidence in her ability to work with Ursula von der Leyen, despite her Brothers of Italy party voting against von der Leyen’s bid for a second term as head of the European Commission. Members of the European Parliament endorsed von der Leyen’s bid for another five-year term on Thursday.
“We have cooperated until now and we will continue to do so in the future,” Meloni stated regarding her relationship with von der Leyen. “We are people who have responsibilities and we understand their importance,” she added in an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera published on Saturday.
Meloni, who has led a right-wing Italian government since 2022, supported von der Leyen’s comments on the need to control immigration during her address to the European Parliament. However, Meloni also emphasized that Europe needed less regulation and should focus on boosting its economic competitiveness.
She highlighted Italy’s significance as the third-largest economy in the EU and a founding member of the bloc, noting that it currently has the most stable government among major EU nations. “Everyone recognizes the weight and role of Italy,” Meloni asserted.
The Italian Prime Minister also mentioned her ability to work with whoever is elected as the U.S. president in November. “For me what counts is the strength of the alliance with the United States,” she said, dismissing the notion that a change in government would alter the strong alliance between two G7 nations as “stupid and childish.”