“Non litighiamo – We are Friends” – Conte to Juncker

“Non litighiamo – We Are Friends” this is how Premier Giuseppe Conte told journalists who were photographing the handshake with Juncker at his entrance to the Berlaymont building of the EU Commission on Saturday prior to a meeting followed by dinner to discuss the latest tensions between the two counterparts following the budget disapproval.

After the meeting with Jean Claude Juncker, Conte said this “was not a decisive meeting, but the step is to reiterate the opening of a dialogue” between Italy and the EU.

“I trust that dialogue can lead to avoiding the procedure, I am always ambitious”, added the premier. The risk of Greece? “Italy has such solid fundamentals, that I would not speak of risk at all in Greece, it seems out of place”.

“The meeting reiterated the opening of a dialogue in a climate of mutual respect, we must continue to dialogue”, said Conte, calling himself “satisfied”. “The climate has reassured me that we are continuing on a constructive dialogue: dialogue will take place tomorrow, will continue in the coming days and will develop in the coming weeks”, he explained.

A spokesman for the European Commission said that “The work will continue over the next few days to bring their respective points of view closer together and seek a solution.”

“The working dinner is part of the ongoing dialogue between the European Commission and the Italian government,” added the spokesperson. “It was a pleasure for President Juncker to receive Prime Minister Conte and Minister Tria, for the working dinner, which was also attended by Vice President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Moscovici”, he concluded.