Quirinal Treaty

The Quirinal Treaty (French: Traité du Quirinal, Italian: Trattato del Quirinale), formally the Treaty between the French Republic and the Italian Republic for a Strengthened Bilateral Cooperation,[1][2] is a bilateral agreement between the Italian Republic and the French Republic, which was signed by Prime Minister Mario Draghi and President Emmanuel Macron at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, on 26 November 2021.[3]

Quirinal Treaty
Treaty between the French Republic and the Italian Republic for a Strengthened Bilateral Cooperation
Emmanuel Macron and Mario Draghi signing the treaty
Signed26 November 2021 (2021-11-26)
LocationRome, Italy
Signatories
Parties
Languages

Content

The Treaty, consisting of 13 articles, "will promote the convergence of French and Italian positions, as well as the coordination of the two countries in matters of European and foreign policy, security and defence, migration policy, economy, education, research, culture and cross-border cooperation".[4] According to both governments, the Treaty was the beginning of a new convergence between the two nations in the leadership and the advance of the European Union.[5] Moreover, the Treaty was seen as an attempt of Italy and France to play a key role in the EU after the retirement of the former German chancellor Angela Merkel.[6]

History
Macron and Draghi at the Quirinal Palace, on 26 November 2021

The project was started by Emmanuel Macron and Paolo Gentiloni in January 2018.[7] However, it was set aside by the first government of Giuseppe Conte, due to the reluctance and political opposition of its members, the right-wing League and the populist Five Star Movement (M5S). When Conte's second cabinet was formed between the M5S and the Democratic Party (PD), talks between Italy and France re-started.[8] At the beginning of 2020 during a bilateral meeting in Naples, Giuseppe Conte and Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed their willingness to sign the draft treaty.[9]

On 13 February 2021, Mario Draghi was appointed new Prime Minister and, on 17 February 2021 he declared that he wanted to better structure the relation between his country and France.[10] Emmanuel Macron shared the same view on 5 July 2021 on the occasion of the visit to the Élysée Palace by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella.[11]

On 26 November 2021, Draghi and Macron signed the treaty at the Quirinal Palace.[12] During a press conference at Villa Madama, Macron stated that "Italy and France share much more than borders. History, art, economies and society had been intertwined for a long time. The institutions we have the honor of representing are based on the same republican values, on respect for human and civil rights and on Europeanism."[13] While Draghi said: "Our sovereignty, understood as the ability to achieve the future we want, can only be strengthened through a shared management of common challenges. We want to favor and accelerate the process of European integration."[14]

See also

References
  1. "Le Traité du Quirinal" (PDF). French Foreign Ministry.
  2. Trattato del Quirinale, www.governo.it
  3. Trattato tra Italia e Francia: Draghi e Macron siglano l'intesa, Rai News
  4. Quirinale treaty: Will a new French-Italian pact shift the balance of power in Europe?, EuroNews
  5. Italy, France to Sign Treaty to Show Closeness Post-Merkel, Bloomberg
  6. Italy, France deepen strategic ties as Merkel's exit tests Europe, Reuters
  7. France-Italie: une confrontation continue, Telos
  8. France et Italie renouent le dialogue après un an de tensions, Les Echos
  9. Italia-Francia, il patto di Napoli Conte-Macron rilancia il rapporto a 360°, Il Sole 24 Ore
  10. Governo, il testo integrale del discorso di Mario Draghi al Senato, la Repubblica
  11. Mattarella all'Eliseo, Macron lo abbraccia: "Profonda amicizia Italia-Francia", Rai News
  12. France, Italy Sign Pact Seeking More Influence in Europe, The Wall Street Journal
  13. Draghi e Macron firmano il Trattato del Quirinale: «Italia e Francia più vicine», Il Sole 24 Ore
  14. L'alleanza Draghi-Macron e il nuovo corso della Germania: la UE cambierà pass?, Corriere della Sera
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