Tense relations between Italy and France almost two years ago were described by France as ''the worst of its kind since World War Two'' - when former Italian prime minister Benito Mussolini declared war on France in 1940.
According to Teresa Coratella and Arturo Varvelli, researchers of the European Council on Foreign Relations , the Franco-Italian pact is a mutual need to overcome divergences and improve internal cooperation. Bodo Weber, a Senior Associate of the Democratization Policy Council , said that the treaty comes at a turning point for the EU, considering the intermediate period in Germany with the end of the Angela Merkel-era and ahead of France's EU presidency next year.
Their relations have developed in recent months as the Italian premier has a pro-EU bent compared to the previous anti-EU government and is interested in finding a stronger role for Italy within the EU. But according to Coratella and Varvelli, this agreement symbolises a new juncture between France and Italy with German involvement.
''If France-Italy cooperates closer then, it would mean close cooperation with other South-Western member states like Spain and Portugal.''
As long as they all want Turkey out we will be fine
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