The "wide-ranging" friendship treaty that Italy and France are set to sign will strengthen the European Union and allow it to take on new global challenges like the Coronavirus, head of state Sergio Mattarella said on Thursday.
"Stronger ties between Italy and France help build a stronger EU, which is more necessary than ever in the face of new global challenges like the pandemic," Mattarella said after talks with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
The Quirinale Treaty due to be signed on Friday in Rome by Macron and Italy's premier Mario Draghi "is in important achievement - a wide-ranging text, " Mattarella stated.
"It is a treaty that united two EU founder-members who share a commitment to building the great European project."
The 60-page treaty aims to bolster bilateral relations and to enable Italy to play a more active role in Europe.
The pact mirrors a treaty signed between France and Germany in 1963 and seeks to spur closer bilateral cooperation in all areas - from foreign policy to defence and culture.
