The discussion focused on energy, migration, bilateral relations, and the security environment in the Eastern Mediterranean. The two ministers exchanged views on the situation in Libya and on how Europe can secure new sources of energy other than from Russia, particularly from the South-Eastern Mediterranean. “For this to happen, Italy should share the same position as Greece in order to advance the projects related to the exploitation of all these gas deposits and energy resources found in the Southeastern Mediterranean”, the Alternate Minister pointedly said.
In particular, Mr. Varvitsiotis, the first Greek Minister to meet a member of the new Italian government and the first European Minister to meet Italy’s new Minister for European Affairs, stated that they exchanged views on the European Union’s major and current problems. “We are determined to work together to strengthen European responses to today’s challenges,” he underlined.
“We share common positions on energy, inflation, and migration with Italy because we believe that a united, serious, and coherent European response to these challenges is required”. This was the message sent from Rome by Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, in a statement to Athens Macedonian News Agency, following his meeting with his new Italian counterpart, Minister for European Affairs, Cohesion and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Raffaele Fitto.
Lastly, the Minister had the opportunity to inform Mr. Fitto about developments in relation to Turkish provocative conduct, which, he said, cannot go unanswered by the European side. Mr. Varvitsiotis stated that his counterpart assured him that Italy remains aligned with the position that supports Greek interests and rights.
