PRESS RELEASE
Brussels
7 February 2019
A diplomatic row between France and Italy has emerged after France recalled its ambassador to Italy for talks on Thursday.
It follows Italian Deputy PM Luigi Di Maio’s decision to meet French "yellow-vest" protesters near Paris on Tuesday.
In response to the move, the European Green Party co-chair Monica Frassoni and French Greens head of list for the European elections MEP Yannick Jadot commented:
“We deeply regret this escalation between the Italian and the French governments. We consider this provocation from important representatives of the Italian government as deeply divisive and not in keeping with the long-term friendship and relations of our two nations.
“Increasingly, cooperation between the two countries on key issues such as migration has become diminished. Greens are convinced that only if French and Italian citizens are engaged and motivated to work together and with other Europeans will it be possible to face the very difficult challenges ahead, including climate change, the erosion of democratic values and social inequalities.
“We stand united in our goal to build a new Europe. No diplomatic crisis or electoral manoeuvring will divide us from pursuing this common goal.”
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