BILATERAL TREATY BETWEEN ITALY AND FRANCE

In late drafts of the new pact, France and Italy committed to coordinate in a true laundry list of areas. The zones for partnerships include security, defense, European affairs, migration, industry, strategic sectors (including 5G, AI and the cloud), justice, venture capital in start-ups and innovative businesses, macroeconomics, culture and youth. The treaty could include a common commitment to develop the space launchers Ariane 6 and Vega-C.

Ministries connected to these sectors will be mandated to coordinate with their counterparts, while the finance and economic development ministries of both countries will commit to work more closely in “forums” on industry and the economy. The entire government must meet for an intergovernmental summit once a year. 

Under the draft treaty, Rome and Paris should coordinate before European Council summits of leaders or other EU meetings to try to agree a common position, a process that already takes place between France and Germany. The draft treaty includes a commitment to strengthen EU defense strategy as a complement to NATO capabilities. Further clauses mandate a committee of cross-border cooperation and a Franco-Italian youth council.

Industrial cooperation is likely to be a litmus test of whether the new pact is more than symbolic. Europe’s industrial policy has traditionally been dominated by the Franco-German pairing – which often set the EU’s industrial agenda by coming up with joint investment plans or by pushing together for reforms.

French Groups present in Italy

1. LVMH
2. Kering
3. BNP Paribas
4. Crédit Agricole
5. Axa
6. Lactalis
7. Engie
8. Michelin
9. Air Liquide
10. Alstom
11. Thalès
12. Decathlon
13. Leroy Merlin
14. Vivendi via Telecom Italia
15. Iliad
16. Saint Gobain
17. Carrefour

Italian Groups present in France

1. Generali
2. MSC
3. Prysmian
4. Edizione (Autogrill)
5. CIR Group (Kos & Sogeti)
6. Ferrero
7. Barilla