The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, sent the following message to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron:
«On the occasion of your national holiday, I am very pleased to convey to you, and to all your fellow citizens, the warmest congratulations of the Italian people, as well as my personal best wishes.
For your country and for all of Europe, 14 July is a moment that carries exceptional historical relevance and great symbolic value, for it celebrates the universal ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, which underpin our democracies. As you wrote yourself, Mr President, in your warm message sent to me on 2 June for Italy’s Republic Day, France and Italy have a “unique relationship”. We are vital allies to one another; we are fortified by the same cultural roots and share several overarching interests.
From this standpoint, the Quirinal Treaty remains a privileged instrument of bilateral cooperation, whose enforcement is a priority for both Paris and Rome. Structured cooperation between trusted partners is key to address the current international context, characterised by complex challenges and growing tensions. Our countries, being influential members of the European Union and of the Atlantic Alliance, are indeed called upon to jointly maintain a leading role on the world stage, starting with their effort to effectively counter the current and most pressing threats to peace – from Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine to the terrible situation in the Middle East.
The concerted sharing of such responsibilities is crucial for the stability, security, prosperity and competitiveness of our continent, whose integration process has greatly contributed – and must continue to do so – to the creation of a rules-based, peaceful and interdependent multilateral order.
Calling to mind the touching recollection of the restored Notre-Dame cathedral – a symbol of the French people’s resilience and industriousness – I renew to you, dear Mr President, my warmest wishes for today’s solemn occasion while expressing my highest esteem and best wishes for your well-being and for a bright future for our friends, the people of France.»
