On 23 January, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took part in the 33rd German-Italian intergovernmental consultations in Rome. Merz was accompanied by 10 ministers, including Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), abroad Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) and Home Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU).
