A tense confrontation held initially in a frosty climate and continued with the confirmation of their intransigent far-off positions closes, except with a joint statement that leaves a small gap to a possible agreement to be found at the bilateral summit Franco- Italian, scheduled for next September 27. Despite the divergences, a definite break was avoided.
The FINCANTIERI-Stx dossier, at the center of the meeting at the Treasury between the ministers of the Economy and Economic Development Pier Carlo Padoan and Carlo Calenda and the French economy minister Bruno Le Maire, therefore remains open but with a definite deadline, that precisely of 27 September, within which the knots concerning the Italian quota, governance and the construction of an Italian-French pole both in the civil and military sectors will be resolved. Meanwhile, Paris is committed to considering only the FINCANTIERI option, without opening the capital to others. In practice, the step forward that has been made is to resume relations, albeit in very rigid positions after the break-up of Paris with the temporary nationalization of the Saint Nazaire shipyards, laying the foundations for a negotiation that could also be unlocked by a Gentiloni-Macron meeting. This picture is reported quite faithfully in the joint declaration issued at the end of the meeting, a novelty compared to the expectations of the eve. It starts from the "strong regret" expressed by Rome for the decision signed by Macron but it comes to the conclusion that the Italian and French governments "express the common will to overcome the differences in the balance in the capital structure of Stx".
In between, some concrete elements that will determine the fate of the negotiations. Starting with the question of the capital structure of STX France which "will be addressed in order to define a mutually acceptable solution during the Franco-Italian bilateral summit on September 27". Then, it is pointed out that "FINCANTIERI's stake in STX France will be defined in line with its leading industrial role". Above all, pending a definitive clearing up, "the French government undertakes not to open the capital of STX France to other parties and to consider FINCANTIERI the preferred option for the future of the company". Then we move on to the details for the real objectives of the whole operation. The governments of France and Italy "express their will to facilitate the creation of a more efficient and competitive European shipbuilding industry" and share "the goal of moving towards a strong alliance between the two countries in both the civil and military fields". If such a scenario is really reached, from the combination of the capabilities of FINCANTIERI, STX France and Naval Group "a European leader of global reach could be born". In the hot statements of the protagonists of the match there are instead all the nuances of a game that still remains to be played. And if the French side reveals more optimism, the Italian side highlights the still significant distances to be bridged. “We have a different opinion on STX but we will find an adequate solution”, confides Le Maire, reiterating that the intention of the French government is to “build a large European civil and military naval company with Italy”.
In the conversation with Le Maire, Padoan replies shortly after, “we found that between Italy and France there are still unresolved differences in the sense that it is not possible to accept a 50% distribution”. Basically, there is no turning back on the stake of the majority in Italian hands. "This position remains and we will remain firm on this", insists the Minister of Economy. Calenda's words are significant. "In order to create a large group, mutual trust is required and the premise of mutual trust is that a conclusion is reached on Stx that essentially respects the agreements made with the French government", he explains, referring to the contract signed with Hollande and then blatantly rejected by Macron. Certainly, the Minister for Economic Development still summarizes, "the positions are still distant". And, to those who ask if the ministers were disappointed by the meeting, he replies with realism: "frankly, we did not expect anything different". All that remains is to wait for this fateful 27 September, the date of the bilateral France-Italy, but a previous meeting between Prime Minister Gentiloni and President Macron would be desirable, perhaps taking advantage of the holidays that the latter would have planned in Puglia in the coming days.
These are the first political reactions following the meeting:
Francesco Boccia (PD), President of the Budget Committee of the Chamber, comments on the meeting at the MEF as follows: “We are playing our credibility on Fincantieri and Stx. Our ministers, Padoan and Calenda, know they have a responsibility on their shoulders that goes beyond themselves; the trip to Italy of the French economy minister, Bruno Le Maire, has turned into a postponement of every decision to another date. The nationalization feared by Macron at the moment appears more of a threat than a decision. It will now be up to Italy and all of Europe to demonstrate that there is an idea of a common industrial policy. Those who limit themselves to saying that EU rules allow France to do all this abdicate the idea of an Italy respected in Europe and with a clear industrial strategy ”.
Maullu (FI): “In the FINCANTIERI affair, Italy and those who govern it have a duty not to take a step back and not to accept for any reason a 50% distribution, or less than what the Koreans had. It is a matter of principle and defense of a national identity that cannot be at the mercy of sudden nationalization decisions in spite of that single European market that is so much talked about but which for some is obviously an empty concept ”. This was stated by the exponent of Forza Italia, Stefano Maullu. "Italy must not retreat a millimeter and, on the contrary, must move with every available tool, also and above all at the European level, to underline a French attitude contrary to the basic principles that in theory should hold this Europe together".