At the outset, he criticized that Italy is frequently overlooked in European debates. Instead, France, the United Kingdom, and Poland are primarily perceived as central pillars of the European Union. This perception, he argued, has historical roots, partly due to Italy’s prolonged periods of domestic political instability, its lack of direct border with Germany, and the absence of a unifying “grand narrative,” such as the one shared by Germany and France through historic enmity followed by reconciliation.
Against this backdrop, Lucas welcomed the announcement by Giorgia Meloni and Friedrich Merz to elevate the German–Italian partnership to a new level. Both countries share significant political common ground and face similar structural challenges. These shared characteristics, he noted, provide a solid foundation for deepened cooperation.
Under Meloni, Italy has also entered a phase of domestic political stability. The radical shifts in foreign and European policy that many had feared have not materialized. This makes Italy a reliable partner for enhancing Europe’s operational capacity and strategically positioning it in the face of growing global challenges.
Lucas highlighted specific areas of cooperation from which Germany and Italy could significantly benefit. In foreign policy, the Balkans and North Africa offer particularly promising arenas for joint action. In defense policy, successful initiatives already exist, such as the collaboration between Rheinmetall and Leonardo. Moreover, the space sector presents additional strategic potential.
In conclusion, Dr. Hans-Dieter Lucas advocated for integrating Italy more fully into the circle of Europe’s core states. A closer German–Italian axis, he argued, could contribute to deeper European integration and provide the European Union with greater strategic coherence and effectiveness.
Lucas verwies auf konkrete Kooperationsfelder, in denen Deutschland und Italien erheblich profitieren könnten. In der Außenpolitik böten sich insbesondere der Balkan und Nordafrika als gemeinsame Handlungsräume an. Auch in der Rüstungspolitik gebe es bereits erfolgreiche Ansätze, etwa durch die Zusammenarbeit von Rheinmetall und Leonardo. Darüber hinaus eröffne der Bereich der Raumfahrt weiteres strategisches Potenzial.
Abschließend plädierte Dr. Hans-Dieter Lucas dafür, Italien stärker in den Kreis der europäischen Kernstaaten einzubinden. Eine engere deutsch-italienische Achse könne dazu beitragen, die europäische Integration zu vertiefen und der Europäischen Union größere strategische Kohärenz und Durchsetzungsfähigkeit zu verleihen.