Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened a high-level meeting on national defense at Palazzo Chigi this morning, attended by leaders from Italy’s major state-controlled defense and industrial firms. Government representatives included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, and Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti.
Key industry attendees comprised Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani, Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero, CDP CEO Dario Scannapieco, Invitalia CEO Bernardo Mattarella, and FS Group CEO Stefano Antonio Donnarumma.
During the summit, Prime Minister Meloni directed the industry executives to initiate discussions examining new European financial mechanisms. Specifically mentioned were the Safe initiative and the “escape clause” – a provision allowing national governments to make defense expenditures without impacting their Stability and Growth Pact fiscal commitments.