The planned summit in Toulouse, initially reported by POLITICO, aimed to showcase Franco-Italian friendship and address transalpine relationship issues, bringing together the two leaders and key ministers to discuss shared policy priorities.
France and Italy have not held a high-level bilateral summit since 2020 when then-Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met with Macron in Naples. The Toulouse summit would be the first since the Quirinale Treaty was signed between Rome and Paris and since Meloni’s election.
Macron and Meloni have clashed on various topics, including migration and the rule of law.
Tensions resurfaced when Macron criticized Meloni for stating that the killing of 23-year-old far-right activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon last weekend was “a wound for the whole of Europe.”
Meloni expressed surprise at Macron’s reaction, clarifying she did not mean to interfere in France’s internal affairs, and revisited previous conflicts, such as when the French government stated it would monitor rule of law in Italy after Meloni’s election win.
Meanwhile, Meloni has gotten increasingly close to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with the two holding a bilateral summit in Rome recently, advocating a more trade-friendly economic agenda, which is less aligned with France’s push for “Made in Europe” rules.
The postponement of the Toulouse summit was first reported earlier by Italian daily IlSole24ore.
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