Question: Good morning President Meloni. What are you expecting from this summit? On the migrant issue, we know about the step change regarding external borders, but will there also be resources on the Central Mediterranean and North Africa?
President Meloni: Overall, with regard to the European Council meeting, we believe that the Conclusions are an excellent starting point. On migration, Tunisia, flexibility in using funds, with regard to economic matters and the first steps towards a European Sovereignty Fund, Italy’s positions are there, so, I shall say it again, the draft of the Conclusions appear to me to be absolutely satisfying for us to start with (then we will see how it turns out). 

With regard to migration, I don’t have to remind you that what is written today in the Council Conclusions was probably unthinkable eight months ago. We really have managed to change the point of view, also with the help of other nations, from the long-standing division between countries of first arrival and countries of secondary movement to the united approach that resolves everyone’s problem: the external dimension approach.

Tunisia. The fact that there is a paragraph dedicated to Tunisia, not in the migration section but in the external relations section, says something important: it says something about the idea of strategic partnership with North African countries. For us, this is a very important step change regarding Europe’s role in the Mediterranean, which Italy has been advocating in these months.

With regard to resources, this is, of course, one of our major challenges. Initial steps are undoubtedly now being made; we’ll see how the agreement with Tunisia moves forward, but I believe this issue regards above all the revision of the multiannual budget, as I said yesterday. Italy has sent a paper, as you know, in which it basically asks for above all two things in the multiannual budget revision: that instability in North African countries, and therefore the Mediterranean, be taken into account, in reply to your question; and, given the rising rates, that NextGenerationEU debt be considered bearing in mind the different context. However, this debate is still ongoing.

[Courtesy translation]

Question: President Meloni, with regard to the situation with mortgages on the other hand, which is of concern to very many Italians, yesterday you were very clear on the ECB’s rates.
President Meloni: I have already said what I think about the ECB’s strategy. With regard to mortgages, the Government had already taken action. This is a major issue that we have been sensitive to from the very beginning. As you will remember, in our budget law we have envisaged a regulation to give everyone the possibility to convert their variable-rate mortgage into a fixed-rate mortgage, without this therefore being at the discretion of individual credit institutions. More needs to be done. This is one of the issues I am discussing in particular with the Economy Minister, especially given the choices being pursued. This is one of those issues on which the Government’s commitment must be daily.    

[Courtesy translation]

Question: [inaudible] 
President Meloni: In my view, it shouldn’t be interpreted politically regarding the matter with [Minister of Tourism] Santanchè who, as you know, will be addressing Parliament on Wednesday and that is when she will clarify her position. 
All the best with your work.
 [Courtesy translation]

Question: [inaudible] 
President Meloni: As you know, it is actually not mentioned in the Conclusions of the Council. I perfectly understand the points of view of nations who have different problems with migration, but I think that the agreement that was found was a balanced one. That’s why Italy [supports] it. 

Question: [inaudible] 
President Meloni: We will see if they pose it at the Council, but actually, as you know, it’s not mentioned in the Conclusions. We will see. It is up to the discussion.

Question: €12 miliardi da spendere [inaudible]. Secondo lei, questo è abbastanza o è necessaria una somma maggiore? 
[€12 billion to be spent [inaudible]. Do you think this is enough or is a greater sum needed?]
President Meloni: Penso che sarebbe un ottimo punto di partenza, che sia un ottimo punto di partenza, soprattutto se quelle risorse si concentrano sul Mediterraneo dove finora non sono state concentrate. Penso che il tema non sia solo migratorio. 
[I think that it would be an excellent starting point, that it is an excellent starting point, especially if those resources are focused on the Mediterranean where they haven’t been until now. I do not think this is only a migration issue.]
Do you want me to do it in English? 
He was asking if the proposal of the Commission of € 12 billion about migration could be enough and I was telling him that it is important to understand that we need money to solve this problem, which have not to be spent only on the security level. We need cooperation, moreover with the Mediterranean countries, the African countries, and that is what I am working on, with strategic partnerships, for I think that, for example, about energy (and that is what Italy is working on), Europe has a problem with energy, of sources, Africa is maybe a great producer of energy. We can put the things together, we can try to help them with investments, producing energy for themselves but also to help us, and tie each other. And that is the strategic project on which Italy is working. So, we will work on the money, I mean it is up to the discussion also for the budget of the next years, we will see what the other countries say, but it is a strategic point of the foreign policy of the European Union. 

Sarebbe un buon punto di partenza [It would be a good starting point].

Question: [inaudible] Foreign Minister said that he expected to have a deal with Tunisia yesterday [inaudible]
President Meloni: It is happening simply that we are going deep in a work which in my opinion is quite important. We signed already, as you know, a common declaration; we are working to do steps ahead, not only about migration but also helping Tunisia in this difficult moment. So, no problem if we need days or weeks more; the problem is the goal and that is what we are working on. 
Thank you very much.