03/06/2024 (Agence Europe) – Giorgia Meloni, President of the Italian Council and President of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), ruled out the possibility of agreements with the Socialists during the next legislature (see EUROPE 13407/9), in an interview with the Italian news website Skuola.net on Friday 31 May. “With the left, I can’t stay in the EU. With the centre-right, we can find synergies”, she stressed. “I think that even within the EU, we need to build a compatible majority. With rainbow majorities, nothing can be done”, she added. She wants to export the “Giorgia majority” to the European Parliament, i.e. the right-wing majority with the European People’s Party (EPP) and Identity and Democracy (ID) groups (see EUROPE 13413/3). If she does not succeed, Mrs Meloni has explained that she would prefer to remain in opposition: “I will defend national interests without being in the European Parliament”. (AD)