• Macron and Meloni held a meeting in Rome on June 3 to address tensions between their nations.
• The leaders focus on shared challenges like the Ukraine war and US tariffs.
• Both emphasized a commitment to stronger European cooperation despite personal and political differences.
• The meeting followed public tensions and criticism over their differing approaches to the Ukraine conflict.
• A bilateral summit is planned in France for 2026 to strengthen relations further.

On June 3, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Rome, aiming to reconcile their differences over shared challenges like the Ukraine war and U.S. tariffs. This meeting comes on the heels of public disputes, but both leaders are under pressure to forge a united front for Europe, especially with Macron seeking to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine while navigating complex relations with U.S. President Donald Trump. "At some point, the international situation made this dysfunction unworkable," noted Jean-Pierre Darnis, a political professor, highlighting the need for cooperation, according to NY Times and Reuters.

During the lengthy discussions that included dinner, the two leaders addressed their "strong convergences" and resolved to enhance their cooperation, with plans for a bilateral summit in France in 2026. Despite their differing political ideologies—Meloni's roots in the nationalist right and Macron's affiliation with the globalist center—the leaders recognized the necessity of unity for European governance amid rising tensions with the United States and ongoing challenges stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "Italy and France aim to strengthen their common commitment for a more sovereign, stronger and more prosperous Europe," stated their joint announcement following the meeting, according to Le Monde.

The recent meeting also serves to address specific criticisms surrounding their relations; notably, Meloni faced backlash for not attending a recent visit to Kyiv with Macron and other leaders, which has strained their partnership. Furthermore, Macron's advocacy for a military presence in Ukraine has faced skepticism from Meloni, indicating a divergence in their approaches to security and diplomacy. Italian officials expressed that this meeting aimed to "lay the foundations for a further strengthening of relations," underscoring the critical nature of their cooperation within the EU framework, according to Le Monde.