Italy and France - both founder members of the European Union - are physically close to each other, have "vast common interests" and are bound by ties of friendship, Germany's ambassador, Viktor Elbling, told Adnkronos Live.
"As Europeans we always want good cooperation between European Union countries," Elbling said after the return to Italy on 15 February of France's envoy Christian Masset following the worst diplomatic rift between the two countries since World War II.
"I believe we do have such cooperation: Italy and France have vast common interests, are countries located very close to each other, and are both founder members of the EU," said Elbling.
Like France and Italy, Germany is also a founder member of the EU.
"This historic triangle has over time given us much stability in the construction of Europe and I believe it will be essential in future," Elbling added.
Masset was recalled to Paris for consultations on 7 February amid a major diplomatic row fuelled by Italy's deputy premier Luigi Di Maio's meeting in Paris on 5 February with members of the 'yellow vests' protest movement.
A French foreign ministry spokesman called the meeting "unacceptable" and said Masset's recall followed months of “unfounded attacks” from Di Maio and his co-deputy premier Matteo Salvini, who have heavily criticised Macron’s economic and migration policies.
Di Maio said his Paris meeting with the yellow vests was "fully legitimate" but underlined that France was Italy's "friend and ally".
