State Visit in Italy of the German President Steinmeier

German President Steinmeier and Italian President Mattarella

Rome [ENA] The President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on Sept 19 began a two-day state visit to Italy and was received at the Quirinale by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella. The meeting between Steinmeier and Mattarella, strengthened the relations between the two countries and the European Union after a critical period with anti-European Union League in the past government.

The Presidents with the First Ladies

Military honors to the German President

The President of the Federal Republic of Germany

The German Ambassador in Rome Viktor Elbling prepared the state visit

The meeting was particularly cordial so that the Presidents stayed for about twenty minutes beyond the time allowed by the protocol. Numerous were the topics dealt with by the High Representatives of the two countries that were among the founding fathers of the European Union. Among the topics addressed there was : the Erasmus, the study program that allowed the best knowledge among young Europeans, so important for the European society as to have given birth to the so-called "Erasmus generation";

The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio and Steinmeier

Italian Delegates

The Press

Steinmeier and Mattarella in Rome

the possible economic and financial crises that could recur again and which the Union must respond with one voice; the repatriation of illegal immigrants to be managed through funds made available at EU level and, last but not least, a coordinated action of the European Union on the crisis in Libya. Particular attention was paid to the environmental protection and to innovation. The President of the Federal Republic of Germany Steinmeier visited the City of Naples the day after the visit in Rome.