European debut for Giorgia Meloni, who met the leaders of the EU institutions in Brussels .

Starting with compatriot Paolo Gentiloni , Commissioner of the Economy with whom the Prime Minister had an informal lunch: " A pleasant and dutiful meeting " during which the emergencies of the moment were addressed, from the NRP to the cost of energy, from the war in Ukraine to the new rules of the stability pact. Then it was the turn of the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola : The meeting lasted about an hour, a 20-minute face-to-face followed by the arrival of the delegations: " Tomorrow I have the cdm, we are racing against time to the budget law ”, said the prime minister. "I am very happy to have chosen to come here for my first international visit, here in Brussels and in particular to Parliament: this is a clear position that Italy has chosen to pursue", said Meloni.

Then the president of the EU Council Charles Michel and the president of the Commission Ursula Von der Leyen : on the agenda all the most topical issues, from the war in Ukraine to the energy crisis, there is also talk of immigration.

“We asked for a change of point of view on migratory flows. The priority for us becomes a priority that is already foreseen in the European regulations, which is the defense of external borders ”, said Meloni referring to the talks with Von der Leyen.

There was also talk of "how to best spend the PNRR funds, even in the face of the difficulties that exist, such as the increase in raw materials and inflation: how to work together to implement the PNRR ". He also reiterated that energy needed a common solution at European level.

“I'm happy - explained Meloni about the climate I found here in Brussels. Seeing and talking directly with people can help dismantle a narrative that has been made about me and the Italian government. We are not Martians, we are people of flesh and blood who explain their positions . It seems to me that on the other side there were people who wanted to listen. This is a first meeting and then from these first meetings a series of dossiers will be born ”.