Italy and Germany never so close, together to fight the coronavirus and united to relaunch Europe.
Sergio Mattarella and Frank-Walter Steimeier will meet in Milan for a visit to the Lombard capital which testifies to the attention with which Germany has followed the dramatic phases of the pandemic in Italy.
For some time now, the Italian and German presidents have had a profound personal harmony and a perfect coincidence of political vision, especially on the need to make great strides on the road to European integration.
Mattarella will accompany "his friend" Steinmeier for several hours on an official visit that, not surprisingly, was wanted in Milan, as the German ambassador to Italy Viktor Elbling explained today in an interview with Sole 24 ore: "Germany has followed the pandemic in Italy, which was ferocious and we have activated ourselves with strong humanitarian support, closely with participation and solidarity. This also explains why Steinmeier's visit takes place in Milan. Precisely with Lombardy, in the early stages of pandemic, we have built an airlift for 44 very serious Italian patients ".
A solidarity much appreciated by Italy which testifies to how distant today some Italo-German tensions dangerously emerged only a few years ago.
Suspicions and retro-thoughts between Rome and Berlin that are now archived, also thanks to the silent and constant work of the two presidents who have met and consulted regularly in recent years.
This is why tomorrow's talks in Milan are important and will not be limited to a reflection on how to fight Covid 19 together. Germany has the rotating presidency of the Union and has been the engine of the elaboration and - even more so - of the approval of the Next Generation Plan, better known as Recovery plan.
The program of Steimeier's visit to Milan is robust: at Palazzo Reale the two presidents will have an interview and, subsequently, will listen to the testimonies of some of the former Italian patients of Covid19 hosted in recent months in German health facilities and medical staff.
Mattarella and Steinmeier will then meet the mayors of the Italian-German twin cities with speeches by the President of ANCI Antonio De Caro, by the President of the National Association of German Municipalities, Ralph Spiegler, and by various mayors.
In the afternoon at the Hangar della Bicocca the two Heads of State will take part in the economic panel on the post Covid which will see the interventions of professors Marco Fortis, Alberto Mantovani, Francesca Bria and Enel CEO Francesco Starace.
The concert at the Teatro alla Scala with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony conducted by Maestro Riccardo Chailly will close Steinmeier's day in Milan.