Press conference with Federal Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Meloni
Germany and Italy share a particularly high degree of common values and interests, said the Federal Chancellor after the German-Italian intergovernmental consultations in Rome. Together, they are fighting for a united Europe and a strong NATO.
- Transcript of press conference
- Friday, 23 January 2026
“The conditions for a very close and cooperative partnership between Germany and Italy are in place,” said Merz.
Photo: Federal Government/Guido Bergmann
At the press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the 33rd German-Italian intergovernmental consultations, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised that Germany and Italy are closer at the present time than ever before. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries. “We want to make 2026 a year of opportunities and a year of decisions,” said Merz.
Merz and Meloni had already held bilateral talks before the plenary session, which was attended by numerous members of both government cabinets. In addition to European and economic policy issues, they also discussed Europe’s security and defence capabilities.
The most important facts in brief:
- Acting together for Europe’s security and defence: Germany and Italy want to strengthen their cooperation on security and create new bilateral momentum in the defence industry, said Merz. To this end, an agreement was signed on increased cooperation in the areas of security, defence and resilience. For the first time, the foreign and defence ministers of both countries met in a joint format as part of the intergovernmental consultations.
- Strengthening internal security: Merz also announced that both countries want to cooperate even more closely in future in the area of internal security. Cooperation on European migration policy is already extremely comprehensive. The two governments have now agreed on a bilateral police agreement and an agreement on cooperation in the protection of classified information.
- For a strong NATO: In a new age of great powers, Europe must and will do more for security in the Arctic, said the Chancellor. “This is in the common transatlantic interest.” Germany will increase its involvement in the region; Italy has also adopted a new Arctic strategy. On the basis of sovereignty and territorial integrity, they want to support talks between Denmark, Greenland and the USA. “We want to preserve NATO,” the Federal Chancellor made clear.
Read the transcript of the press conference here (in German only):