Subscribe
The intergovernmental summit between Italy and France on June 25, 2026, held in Antibes, represented a particularly significant moment for strengthening relations between the two countries and consolidating a shared vision on key European and international challenges. The meeting was attended by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron.
DIGITAL AFFAIRS AMONG THE KEY PRIORITIES OF INTERNATIONAL POLICY
Among the numerous international policy issues addressed during the intergovernmental summit, the joint statements placed particular emphasis on digital policies and the role they are destined to play in the future of the European Union. Indeed, the digital dimension emerges as one of the areas in which Italy and France intend to further strengthen political coordination, recognizing its centrality to economic competitiveness, security, technological sovereignty, and the protection of fundamental rights. The shared positions outlined at the end of the meeting outline a common strategy that views digital not only as a rapidly evolving industrial sector, but as a cross-cutting component of European policies. The proposed initiatives concern technological innovation, single-market regulation, data protection, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and online user safety, with a particular focus on child protection.
A COMMON STRATEGY FOR A EUROPEAN DIGITAL AGENDA
The joint statements highlight the two governments’ commitment to contributing to the development of a shared European digital agenda. The objective is to strengthen the Union’s competitiveness through coordinated policies capable of supporting investment, incentivizing innovation, and fostering greater integration of the digital single market. The approach adopted simultaneously aims to promote simplification of the regulatory framework, while maintaining full respect for fundamental rights and essential national competences. According to this approach, technological development must be balanced with the need to protect citizens and preserve Member States’ prerogatives in their respective areas of competence. The Union’s strategic autonomy is also one of the guiding principles of the common approach. In this context, Europe’s ability to develop advanced technologies and reduce external dependencies is considered a key element in addressing the ongoing economic and geopolitical transformations.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGIES
Among the topics discussed, artificial intelligence is particularly important, identified as one of the key drivers of technological and industrial development in Europe. Italy and France confirm their support for the European AI Frontier Initiative, considered one of the tools to strengthen the Union’s capacity to develop advanced artificial intelligence systems while maintaining high standards of safety, reliability, and competitiveness. At the same time, the two governments are supporting the launch of a new Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) dedicated to artificial intelligence. This instrument is intended to foster joint investments and promote collaboration between European businesses, research centers, and institutions in a sector destined to assume an increasingly strategic role. At the same time, the need to develop secure and resilient value chains in key strategic technology sectors is emphasized, thus ensuring greater production autonomy and a better ability to respond to vulnerabilities arising from international dynamics.
INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS AND EUROPEAN PREFERENCES IN DIGITAL
The joint declarations place digital policies within a broader strategy for European industrial competitiveness. In this context, consistency with the Franco-Italian Joint Agenda for Industry and Competitiveness in Europe and the Common European Digital Agenda is emphasized. According to the shared position of the two countries, the debate on the so-called European preferences in the digital sector should develop according to criteria of proportionality and graduality, and be based on empirical evidence. This approach is considered a useful tool for strengthening the value chains of the European technology industry and for encouraging the development of technologies and services capable of generating economic value within the Union. The objective, therefore, is not to adopt protectionist measures, but to create favorable conditions for the European production system to compete effectively on the global stage, leveraging industrial capabilities, scientific research, and technological innovation.
DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY, DATA, AND CYBERSECURITY
One of the most significant passages of the declarations concerns the growing strategic importance of data localization, management, and processing. Italy and France recognize that the location where information is stored and processed is now a key component of Europe’s digital sovereignty and resilience. The two governments therefore commit to working together at European level to ensure the highest level of protection for the most sensitive data against all types of risks, including the consequences arising from the application of extraterritorial regulations pertaining to non-European jurisdictions. In this perspective, support is expressed for the advancement of the revision of the Cybersecurity Act and the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act. Both initiatives are considered fundamental tools for building a credible European mechanism capable of effectively addressing new technological challenges and cybersecurity risks. The declarations also highlight the intention to continue supporting the development of digital commons through the Digital Commons-EDIC consortium, positioning this initiative as one of the tools to strengthen Europe’s digital infrastructure and promote cooperation between Member States.
BILATERAL COOPERATION AND A COORDINATED EUROPEAN APPROACH
To further consolidate collaboration in the digital sector, Italy and France have announced the establishment of a permanent bilateral dialogue dedicated to digital and cyber issues. This mechanism will enable structured discussion between the two countries’ administrations and help define common positions within European institutions. This cooperation is also part of the “Team Europe” approach, which aims to strengthen coordination between Member States in technology and digital policies, fostering greater coherence in European initiatives and a more effective response to global challenges. This approach confirms Italy and France’s commitment to playing an active role in defining the Union’s future digital policies, leveraging bilateral cooperation as a lever to guide the European decision-making process.
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT
Shared priorities also include the safety of the digital space, with particular attention to the protection of children and adolescents. The declarations emphasize the need to make the internet and social media platforms safer environments, reducing the risks to which young users are exposed. The two governments recognize that the European Union has made significant regulatory progress in recent years, recalling in particular the European Guidelines for the Protection of Minors Online published in 2025. In this context, the importance of ensuring consistent and effective application of the Digital Services Act is reiterated, considered one of the key tools for ensuring greater protection in the digital environment. Italy and France also support an ambitious and comprehensive approach to child protection, based on the principle of security by design of digital services. This approach should be included in the future European Digital Agenda and should also include the definition of a higher digital age for accessing social media, respecting the competences of individual Member States. Finally, the declarations highlight the shared commitment to promoting safe, secure, and age-appropriate online experiences for users. To achieve this goal, the development of innovative and effective age verification mechanisms is envisaged, capable of reconciling the need to protect minors with the safeguarding of user privacy and compliance with the various national jurisdictions and their respective regulatory frameworks.
A SHARED VISION FOR EUROPE’S DIGITAL FUTURE
The set of commitments made during the intergovernmental summit of June 25, 2026, highlights Italy and France’s intention to give digital a central role in the development of future European policies. The joint declarations outline a comprehensive strategy that integrates industrial competitiveness, technological innovation, cybersecurity, digital sovereignty, data protection, the development of strategic infrastructure, and the protection of fundamental rights. Among the many international policy dossiers addressed during the summit, digital issues thus assume a particularly significant importance, confirming the two countries’ desire to jointly contribute to the definition of the European Union’s next digital agenda. Bilateral cooperation is thus conceived as a tool to strengthen Europe’s ability to address emerging technological challenges, support innovation, consolidate its strategic autonomy, and ensure an increasingly secure, competitive, and citizen-friendly digital ecosystem.