Her Foreign Minister FranceCatherine Colonna said today she will travel to Rome on Thursday to meet with her Italian counterpart, three weeks after tensions sparked by remarks by French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin critical of the Italian prime minister. Georgia Meloni.

On May 4, Darmanen stated that Meloni was “unable to solve the problem of immigration for which she was elected.” These statements angered Italy as Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a scheduled meeting with the Colonna in Paris on the same day.

“I will go to Italy on Thursday afternoon at the invitation of my Italian colleague,” said Antonio Tajani, Colonna, in an interview with France 2 TV.

Bilateral Relations “Not in Crisis”

The French minister noted that relations between Paris and Rome are “definitely” not in crisis.

“It is true that after the statements were made, there was a moment of hesitation and surprise,” he admitted. “We have since given explanations,” Colona added.

She stressed that France and Italy have common interests: “to prevent departures and to ask countries that do not properly control their coasts to do more.”

He also said that “there is reason to hope for better cooperation between European countries in order to combat human (migrant) trafficking and prevent departure”.

“Italy is really facing a lot of migratory pressure, which mostly passes through the Mediterranean, and therefore we want to work more closely with it,” Colonna continued, adding that this could be done “together with the EU.”

Asked about the possibility of Meloni’s visit to Paris in June, the French minister replied: “I think we are looking for dates, but that remains to be seen.”

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}