Italy and France have a "unique
bond", President Sergio Mattarella told President Emmanuel
Macron in Paris Monday on his first trip abroad after the COVID
pandemic.
"This is my first foreign trip after the pandemic. I'm happy it
is to France. I thank Macron for recalling the victims. Italy
and France have a unique bond that is based on common values, a
common history", he said at the Elysée Palace.
"The Italo-French partnership is fundamental for Europe. We
talked with Macron about how to intensify our relations, From
all that is born the need for a treaty of reinforced
collaboration. Italy has welcomed the proposal of joint
Franco-Italian civil service for young people".
Macron said "France welcomes a friend and a great personality.
"We have never stopped taking and working together", he said
referring to the pandemic in which "France and Italy found
themselves facing the same situation withing the space of 10
days".
The French president said "we have decided to proceed with the
bilateral Treaty of reinforced cooperation, the Quirinal Treaty,
which will help consolidate our relationship".
He said the treaty "will enable us to offer our peoples and
young people real prospects and will help young people work
together in a Franco-Italian civil service".
The two presidents had agreed on bolstering European solidarity,
Macron said.
"Last year, in particular since the summer of 2020, we have had
together a strong will to build a shared European ambition".
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