Journalist: What will you say to President Zelensky?
President Meloni: Italy continues to be fully committed; ours is a comprehensive contribution because we are aware, as we have said several times, that as well as the issue of respect for international law, of the value of a nation’s sovereignty and freedom, the conflict in Ukraine involves us all directly. I believe the best way to build an option of peace, of dialogue, is to keep the forces on the ground on an equal footing. So, comprehensive support for Ukraine is also the best way to reach possible negotiations. In any case, Italy will continue to provide its support today, and of course intends to play a leading role in the country’s possible future reconstruction. 
[Courtesy translation]

Journalist: Are you optimistic that steps forward can be made regarding immigration?
President Meloni: I believe that steps forward have already been made. Compared with the past, the draft conclusions, regarding the external dimension, regarding the fact that the migration issue is a European issue, regarding the specific characteristics of the maritime border, which obviously needs different responses, are a huge step forward. Those familiar with these dynamics know that, in the last five/six years, it was difficult to imagine the European Council having such an awareness of this issue. So, I consider this to be an excellent starting point, which is the result of significant work by Italy, not just in political terms but also from a diplomatic point of view. I am therefore quite optimistic.
[Courtesy translation]

Journalist: With regard to economic matters, what is Italy mainly expecting from this European Council meeting?
President Meloni: I expect the legitimate aspirations of individual nations not to be at the expense of others, and that it is therefore possible to find a balance. On the one hand, we undoubtedly have a huge need to defend the competitiveness of our system, not because of the United States’ IRA (Inflation Reduction Act), but because it is a time when we must question the choices that have been made, for example with regard to supply chains – go back to controlling our key supply chains. We have a problem with competitiveness; we must help our production system and we must of course do so without creating disparity within the single market. So, for example, we continue to believe that envisaging a sovereignty fund to support companies and working on full flexibility for existing funds are matters that must be brought to the table and discussed when certain countries that have greater fiscal space than others ask for a relaxation of State aid rules.
[Courtesy translation]

Journalist: Was France and Germany’s trip to Washington inappropriate?
President Meloni: Frankly, yesterday’s invitation to President Zelensky seemed more inappropriate to me, because I believe our strength in this matter is our unity and compactness. I understand the domestic politics issue, the fact of prioritising public opinions in our own countries, but there are times when prioritising public opinion in your own country risks being to the detriment of the cause, and it seems to me that this was one of those times. 
[Courtesy translation]

Journalist: The Austrian Chancellor wants EU money to be invested, EUR 2 billion, in border infrastructure, on the Turkish border and Bulgarian border. What is your stance on this? Do you support this?
President Meloni: I think that Europe has to control its external borders and I do agree with whatever helps to control illegal migration and help legal migration. It regards different instruments that we need, depending on the different borders that we have. So, as Italy for example, I’m asking to take care of the South border, the maritime one, which needs particular answers, and I think that we do agree with the fact that Europe has to manage immigration and it didn’t [do] that in the past years as we think it should. So, I will support other countries’ questions and I hope they will support mine.

Journalist: Can you tell me something about [inaudible]
President Meloni: It was a great experience, a very important one. I’ve been talking with all the representatives. It is a country in which Italy has an historical presence and we want to strengthen it on the political level, on the economic level, and I think also the work that our soldiers have been [doing] there is very important. I think I will come back. Thank you.