Premier Giorgia Meloni told the Senate on Wednesday that her government’s stability had strengthened Italy both economically and internationally as she reported to parliament ahead of this week’s European Council meeting in Brussels.
“The European Council on October 23 and 24 once again comes at an extremely complex international juncture,” Meloni said. She noted her administration marked its third anniversary this week and had become the third-longest-serving government in the history of the Italian Republic.
She praised her government’s stability for improving the country’s standing abroad. “Italy goes into it strong, with a political stability that is rare in republican history,” she continued. “Solid economic and financial indicators make it appreciated by analysts and attractive to investors.”
Support for Ukraine remains firm
Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s “unwavering” support for Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia’s invasion. She stressed Italy would not deploy troops to Ukrainian territory.
“Our position on Ukraine has not changed and it cannot change when faced with the civilian victims and the images of homes systematically bombed by Russian forces,” she said. “Our support for the Ukrainian people remains determined, with the sole intent of achieving peace. I said this to President Zelensky a few days ago on the phone.”
She also cautioned against moves to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, warning that any such decision must respect international law, uphold financial stability, and ensure legal sustainability.
No recognition of Palestine while Hamas holds power
Turning to the Middle East, Meloni reiterated that Italy would not recognise a Palestinian state until Hamas is disarmed and excluded from governance in Gaza.
“Hamas must accept that it has no role in the transitional governance and in the future Palestinian state, and it must be disarmed to prevent it from continuing to pose a threat to regional stability,” she said.
Meloni condemned reports of Hamas carrying out summary executions, including of Palestinians, calling the acts “unacceptable”. She said the group’s actions proved that “Hamas is the enemy of the Palestinian people”.
Opposition to EU Climate Law Revision
The premier also made clear that Italy will not support the European Commission’s proposed revision of the EU Climate Law unless there is what she called a “real change of approach” to the European Green Deal.
The Commission has suggested tightening the bloc’s climate target by requiring a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, compared with 1990 levels. Meloni said such goals were “unreasonable” without major policy reforms.
“Italy supports, and will continue to support, an ambitious emission reduction pathway,” she told senators. “But the best way to achieve this goal is not to continue to chase an ideological approach that sets unsustainable and therefore unattainable targets that risk compromising the very credibility of the European Union.”
Meloni has repeatedly criticised the Green Deal as damaging to key industries, particularly the automotive sector, and has called for its suspension to protect European competitiveness.
