Defense Minister Elisabetta Trenta at the joint meeting of EU Foreign and Defense Ministers spoke of the fight against terrorism, stating in her speech that, "the fight against terrorism for the EU must be a priority issue, that's why the pivotal role that the 'NATO Regional Hub for the South' can play in coordinating all the initiatives related to the partnership ".
Then the Italian Minister of Defense somewhat opposed the French proposal for a rapid intervention European military force. The French Minister of Defense Florence Parly has indeed proposed a new European military force. The European Intervention Initiative aims to rapidly deploy a European force to deal with international crises. A letter of intent is about to be signed in Luxembourg where the meeting of EU defense ministers is underway between France, Germany, United Kingdom, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Spain and Portugal.
It would be a military component to deal with possible threats to European security such as natural disasters, crisis interventions, or the evacuation of European citizens. This would be the only form of European military synergy. But Italy, which initially showed some interest in the proposal and was considering the possibility of joining it, has made it known that for now it will not sign any letter of intent.
Speaking, instead, of the "military mobility ",Minister Elisabetta Trenta expressed "strong satisfaction, because it is a project that aims to strengthen the security of the whole of Europe and in particular the southern shore through the implementation of the corridors of the Trans-European Network-Transportation component".
Immediately a parliamentary question by Forza Italia. MEP Massimiliano Salini of Forza Italia announced an urgent question to the EU Commission on the new “European initiative force”. "We take note - said Salini - that while on the immigration front, in line with the program of the center-right, takes the initiative and makes its European allies heard, in defense policies the Five Star Minister Elisabetta Trenta is to to watch". "It is useless to try to cover up political inaction by reiterating Italy's obvious adhesion to Pesco or alignment with NATO, as if, according to what appears, among the states adhering to the 'European initiative force' there were no pillar countries of EU like Germany, or the Atlantic Alliance like Great Britain. Hoping to spite France, promoter of the initiative - concluded Salini - by staying out of it is just an illusion that risks marginalizing Italy on key initiatives concerning national security and European defense ”.