Metsola meets Italy PM Meloni: ‘Unity in face of Russian invasion’

European Parliament president Roberta Metsola has reminded Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni of the need for European unity in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a tweet announcing their meeting in Brussels, Metsola – a champion of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union – said it was important for Italy, a founding EU state, to have a central role in the Union.

“With the Russian invasino of Ukraine, the skyrocketing price of energy and increasing inflation, we must remain united. We are stronger, together,” Metsola said.

Benvenuta Presidente @GiorgiaMeloni al @Europarl_IT.

L'Italia ha sempre avuto un ruolo centrale nell'UE.

Più che mai - con l'invasione Russa dell’Ucraina, prezzi dell'energia alle stelle e inflazione in aumento - dobbiamo rimanere uniti.

Siamo più forti se stiamo insieme 🇪🇺🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/khKuHN02me

— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) November 3, 2022

Italy’s right-wing parties toned down their Euroscepticism in recent months as they prepared for power following their landslide victory in the Italian general election of October.

Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy, ECR) and the Northern League Party (Lega, ID)  significantly changed their position on the EU, evolving from supporting an EU exit to more moderate criticism of the bloc.

Meloni even replied to a tweet of congratulations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that he “can count on our loyal support for the cause of the freedom of Ukrainian people”.

Meloni’s party had previously been more sympathetic to Vladimir Putin’s Russia.