From Rome to Brussels: Italy’s Current Relationship with the EU

By Agnese Coletta

The European Union was founded on treaties like the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which enshrine collective security as a cornerstone of integration. These treaties were established after World War II to integrate European economies and political systems and make conflict improbable. However, as of today, the rise of nationalist politics in member states, compounded by crises like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or the current situation between Europe and the United States, has strained this vision. Under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, Italy exemplifies this tension. While supporting EU solidarity in response to Ukraine, Rome has simultaneously resisted Brussels’ centralised security frameworks, prioritising national sovereignty in areas such as defence. 

Defence Policies

The TEU explicitly allows for the establishment of a common defence policy and makes provisions for its development within the EU framework. Still, it also emphasises that national security remains the sole responsibility of member states. 

The Italian government’s stance seems to be caught between national sovereignty and a will for a unified Europe. For instance, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that her coalition, “Fratelli D’Italia”, is indeed committed to strengthening Italian security and defence. However, it has expressed concerns about the ‘ReArm Europe’ project– the EU’s plan to raise 150 billion euros in loans for national defence investments and exempt military spending from the bloc’s fiscal rules. Meloni stated that the project evoked the use of lethal weapons–something that is shocking for many Italians with a strong, church-influenced, pacifist streak. She continued by saying that the EU’s focus should be wider and cover "operability, essential services, energy infrastructures, supply chains: all things that are not simply done with weapons. [...]There is no defence without this approach,". Italy’s negative stance towards the idea of an EU “rearm” plan has also been supported by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and “Lega” party leader Matteo Salvini, as well as Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, who warned against the risk of further swelling Italy's public debt. The project, after Italy and Spain’s backlash, has been relabeled ‘Readiness 2030’, but retains the same objectives. This name “should be seen in the context of encapsulating a broader scope”, stated Paula Pinho, the Commission's chief spokesperson.

Stuck Between Europe and the United States

Another point showing Italy’s current position is the EU-US relationship regarding the defence framework activated in aid of Ukraine. The Italian Prime Minister, a supporter of the Trump administration, has found herself in the middle between European defence and the transatlantic crisis. Prime Minister Meloni has stated that Italy’s support for Ukraine has "never been in question". Nonetheless, at the European Parliament, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from her party have failed to back a motion supporting Kyiv,  because it unfavourably referenced Trump's approach. When talking about the United States, the PM seems to be reaffirming her relationship with Washington, stressing a united coalition between the European Union and the United States to tackle security issues. "It is unimaginable to build effective and lasting security guarantees by dividing Europe and the United States," she told the Senate. Moreover, Meloni also stresses NATO’s support "It is right that Europe equips itself to do its part, but it is at best naive, at worst crazy to think that today it can be done alone without NATO”. However, despite her statements, Italy currently only spends about 1.5 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence – below the NATO commitment of two per cent and well below Trump's demand of five per cent.

Meloni’s “Ventotene Manifesto” Statement

Yet another instance showing Italy’s current bumpy relationship with the European Union has been Meloni’s statement made on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in front of Italy's Lower House of Parliament, during her speech presenting the position that Italy would take at a defence-dominated European Council meeting. "I don't know if this is your Europe, but it's certainly not mine", Meloni said of the 1941 manifesto. "I am not very clear on your idea of Europe [...] I hope they haven't read it, because the alternative would be scary", Meloni went on to say, mentioning a pro-EU demonstration held in Rome the previous Saturday. The manifesto, encouraging a federation of European states in a bid to prevent future wars, was ideated by two of the founding fathers of the European Union–Altiero Spinelli and Ernesto Rossi, who were housed in a Fascist prison in Ventotene during World War II. 

The PM’s speech implied that the European unity defended in Ventotene was authoritarian and hostile to private property. The strong statement, showing Meloni's Italian government’s rising nationalist agenda, sparked chaos in the Lower House. This subsequently ended with the suspension of the session. 

Italy’s Future

Meloni’s recent remarks on the Ventotene Manifesto, paired with her government’s indecisive stances and disagreements on current EU matters, underscore Italy’s current challenges in its relationship with the European Union. The country’s balance between national sovereignty and European collaboration is precarious. Will Prime Minister Meloni be able to maintain this balance? Will she succeed in building the bridge between Europe and the transatlantic? Italy’s strategic position within the EU and on the international level will be critical in shaping the nation’s future. 

The EU’s Evolving Direction 

In the broader context, as of 2025, the European Union stands at a crossroads, with a fine line between chaos and stability. With a growing economic gap between member states and hesitant European economic policies, paired with the EU’s current position –caught between the US and the Russian war–, the rising of nationalist politics and ideologies within member states, and EU-wide defence policy issues, the EU finds itself in a rather critical situation. The present landscape raises questions and concerns among European citizens about the EU’s future and strategic decisions. Will this period strengthen integration to tackle ongoing challenges, or will it further fragment the idea of a united Europe? 2025, and the coming years will be decisive in shaping the EU’s future.

Sources: Euronews, Financial Times, The Local Italy, La Repubblica, Le Monde, ANSA, Reuters, Brussels Signal.

Written by Agnese Colleta

Edited by Nina Gush & Sarah Valkenburg