Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Weighs Options on EU Summit and Davos Invitation
On Thursday, the informal EU summit in Brussels is currently the only item on the agenda for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. However, she has not ruled out the possibility of attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, prior to the summit. This decision comes after Meloni received an invitation from Donald Trump to join the Board of Peace for Gaza, a heterogeneous body aimed at building lasting peace in the Middle East. The prime minister is still considering the invitation and may participate in the summit without immediately signing the founding charter.
A government meeting was convened at Palazzo Chigi to discuss the security package, with Deputy Prime Ministers Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto in attendance. The meeting addressed tensions between the US and the EU over Greenland, as well as the implications on the Ukrainian conflict and the Board for Gaza, ahead of Trump’s arrival in Davos. For further information 
EU Summit and Transatlantic Relations
During the government meeting, Salvini briefly mentioned the potential duties on French wines, while Tajani and his allies emphasized the need to rationalize the problem. Meloni’s objective remains a de-escalation on the transatlantic axis, and she has been in contact with several European colleagues, receiving support for her mediation efforts between the EU and the US. Berlin has also expressed appreciation for Meloni’s efforts, ahead of the Italy-Germany intergovernmental summit scheduled for Friday in Rome.
The informal EU Council will discuss the posture to be taken towards the US, including the Board for Gaza, on the evening before the summit. This context may influence Meloni’s decision regarding the signature on the founding charter. Initially, Meloni had announced that she would not participate in the World Economic Forum, despite being included in a work session entitled “Europe’s choices in a competitive world”. However, she is expected to attend the 30th-anniversary celebration of Porta a Porta on Rai1 tomorrow evening.
Board of Peace and International Implications
One of the primary concerns being discussed is the inclusion of Vladimir Putin in the Board, which creates embarrassment at the top levels of the government. FI has expressed suspicion towards the solution, inviting evaluation of participation “with great attention”, considering the important implications at an international level. Palazzo Chigi has not provided explicit comments, aiming to avoid adding new tensions to the already delicate situation. The Kremlin has also remained silent, with Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov stating, “Whoever wants to talk to us seriously, call us”. Meanwhile, Meloni received thanks from Volodymyr Zelensky for the supplies of generators intended for Ukraine’s energy support.
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