Berlin, 22 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have signed a joint action plan to deepen relations and increase cooperation in areas including energy, technology, competition and climate protection.

Scholz, who received Meloni in Berlin on Wednesday in the first German-Italian government meeting since 2016, said the plan would create new joint projects.

Speaking during a press conference following the signing of the agreement, he highlighted in particular closer cooperation in the energy sector to secure the supply of gas and hydrogen, announcing the construction of a trans-alpine pipeline.

Meloni's predecessor, Mario Draghi, and Scholz had already agreed to the German-Italian action plan in 2021.

Photo: EPA