Berlin is a possible venue for an E5 summit. Tivat, Montenegro, will host the EU-Western Balkans meeting. And then there is Galati, Romania, where a Russian drone struck a residential building. These locations are currently the focus of the Prime Minister’s Office. Giorgia Meloni has not yet decided whether she will attend the summit with Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland scheduled in Berlin on June 2, which is expected to include Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The meeting is intended to review the Russia-Ukraine conflict and will concentrate on contentious issues such as the prospect of Ukraine joining the European Union, a goal Kyiv is pushing strongly for.
The core issue is the date. June 2 is Republic Day: the prime minister will be occupied with the parade and the evening event “I volti della Repubblica” at the Quirinal. As government circles note, “if that date remains, it’s impossible to attend.” Setting the summit on a national holiday was not welcomed within the government, which asked to explore an alternative date. If that request is accepted, the prime minister’s participation would be confirmed. The summit in Tivat on June 5, focused on the Balkan dossier, remains on the calendar.
High tension in Romania
Meanwhile, European political attention has shifted to Romanian airspace. A Russian drone struck a civilian building in Galati, wounding two people. The European Union and NATO issued an immediate and strong condemnation. The Italian prime minister also expressed solidarity and “deep closeness” to Bucharest, “an ally and member of the European Union.” In a statement, Meloni called the incident a “very serious act that shows how this war of aggression spares no one, continuing to strike innocent civilians brutally, ignoring all limits and endangering European security.”
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani took a similar stance: “I strongly condemn the violation of Romanian airspace by a Russian drone. Once again,” he added, “the Italian government urges the Russian Federation to commit seriously to a just and lasting peace. My solidarity goes to the Romanian government and to Foreign Minister Oana Toiu.” Defense Minister Guido Crosetto described the event as “a dangerous and irresponsible escalation that cannot be tolerated.” The League adopted a more cautious tone: “For the sake of our children we must work with conviction and determination for peace, listening to and involving everyone,” the party led by Matteo Salvini said, reaffirming a position that continues to differ from the rest of the governing majority.
Vannacci breaks ranks
Roberto Vannacci stands apart. The leader of Futuro Nazionale posted a video on social media in which he challenges the common interpretation of the event, suggesting the drone could have been Ukrainian: “What interest would Russia have today in striking a NATO country? And what interest would Ukraine have in carrying out such an attack while making people believe it was the Russians, precisely at a time when discussions are underway about its accession to the European Union? Think about it.” He continued: “Let’s use our brains. Reality is not always what we are shown. Do you remember Colin Powell showing evidence of weapons of mass destruction in front of the UN?”
This line of argument echoes Vladimir Putin’s comment that “no one can state to whom the drone belonged” before a technical analysis of the debris. On the question of Ukraine’s EU membership, the center-right remains divided. Forza Italia is in favor, the League is opposed. In between, Brothers of Italy is seeking a compromise: the party’s organizational head, Giovanni Donzelli, summarized the party’s – and the prime minister’s – position in cautious terms: yes to Kyiv’s accession, but only after the war has ended.
The SAFE issue
In the background, the SAFE matter remains unresolved. According to Thomas Regnier, the European Commission’s defense spokesperson, five member states (Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Romania and Belgium) have already signed contracts to access loans from the European defense program. Italy, which would theoretically have access to 14.9 billion at favorable rates, has not yet joined. The formal deadline is set for tomorrow, May 30, but sources familiar with the dossier clarify that the deadline applies only to national procurements and not to those carried out in cooperation with other countries, which reduces the urgency of signing. Another deadline is approaching: June 6 marks the extraordinary cut to fuel excise duties. Government sources say it is unlikely that an energy-related measure will reach the Council of Ministers’ agenda on June 4. (by Antonio Atte)
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