The final decision taken by Giorgia Meloni regarding Italy's participation in the Peace Council, initiated by Trump
Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni. PHOTO: Pcm/Ropi / Zuma Press / Profimedia
Italy intends to participate in President Donald Trump's Peace Council as an observer country, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday, during a visit to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, reports DPA, taken over by Agerpres.
The Italian leader previously stated that Italy cannot become a member of this body for constitutional reasons.
Meloni, who is perceived to be on good terms with Trump, said Washington had now invited Italy to join as an observer country, which she described as “a good solution”.
Considering all the work needed to stabilize the situation in the Middle East, an Italian and European presence is important, she emphasized.
Trump officially launched the Peace Council at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Originally designed to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, the body's ambitions are now unclear, with Trump suggesting it can be used to resolve conflicts and crises around the world. Many European countries see this body as an attempt to undermine the UN and refuse to participate, with Bulgaria and Hungary being the only EU states that have joined the initiative that brings together 26 countries so far.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed for his part on Wednesday that Italy will not join. “We cannot join the Peace Council because there is an insurmountable constitutional barrier on the Italian side,” he told Sky news channel TG24.
“However, if there is a need to work on reconstruction efforts aimed at securing peace in the Middle East, we are prepared to do so,” he added.
Under Italy's constitution, the country can only join international organizations on an equal footing with other member states — a condition Rome says is not met by the Council's current status, which gives Trump broad executive powers.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of the European leaders closest to Trump, said last month that she had asked him to change the terms of the Peace Council to allow Italy to join.
