Meloni visits Prague: Babiš calls meeting a major milestone

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Czechia on Tuesday for the first time in three and a half years. She was received by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš at the Straka Academy, where the two discussed the European Union's competitiveness, preparations for the EU's next multiannual budget and European security issues.

“I am very, very happy to be in Prague and to meet again with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, my friend Andrej Babiš, whom I thank for the invitation,” Meloni said.

At the start of the press conference held after the talks, the two leaders exchanged the text of an action plan to strengthen cooperation between Italy and Czechia across several areas. “This is an important milestone in our relations and a clear framework for cooperation and development,” Babiš said. He added that he was glad to discuss Europe's challenges with his Italian counterpart and noted that he appreciated Meloni making time for the meeting despite her busy schedule.

A week earlier, the Czech government had reviewed the plan — a document on strategic bilateral and pan-European cooperation between Czechia and Italy through 2030. It covers economic cooperation, economic security, defence, migration, and science and education.

Prague-Rome relations on the rise

According to Italian sources, the visit confirms the gradual strengthening of ties between Rome and Prague, marked by a growing convergence of positions on key European issues and a shared drive to develop bilateral cooperation. Meloni herself confirmed this: “Italy and Czechia have grown closer in recent years than ever before,” she said after the talks, adding that the relationship can now fully realise its potential for development.

“This is due to the complementary nature of our production systems, reflected in growing mutual trade, as well as the convergence of our positions on many issues, above all at the European level, which we have seen over the years together with Prime Minister Babiš. And also to a certain personal rapport,” the Italian prime minister added.

A joint plan on energy prices

According to Italian sources, it was known even before the visit that Babiš and Meloni intend to jointly push for lower energy prices and a reform of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS). The Czech-Italian tandem plans to present its package of proposed changes at the EU summit in mid-October.

The same sources say the current emissions trading system artificially inflates prices and creates an imbalance among EU countries, which harms the competitiveness of European companies and industry. “We must fight to keep Europe competitive,” Babiš stressed.

Already their second meeting this year

This was the first time Babiš and Meloni met on Czech soil, but not their first personal meeting overall: in February they met in Rome, where they agreed to prepare the aforementioned cooperation plan for 2026–2030. At the time, Babiš praised the meeting with Meloni, saying it “clearly showed that we share similar views on many European issues,” and pointed to another coincidence — both politicians founded their movements in the same year. Babiš described the Italian prime minister as a “very pragmatic” leader with “incredible energy and drive.”

Abroad, Meloni has earned a reputation as a respected and sought-after partner. At home, she has become Italy's longest-serving prime minister since the end of the Second World War. Thanks to her successes, she has become a role model for a number of more radical politicians across Europe.

The Italian prime minister last visited Prague in May 2023, when she was received by Petr Fiala, who was prime minister at the time, and the two discussed the development of Czech-Italian relations. This year, Czechia was also visited by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who held official talks in April with President Petr Pavel on bilateral relations, cooperation within the EU and NATO, the security situation amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and developments in the Middle East.

Source: seznamzpravy.cz