'Boost EU's international role' - Meloni-Kallas

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 10 - The importance of boosting the European Union's international role was stressed in a meeting between Premier Giorgia Meloni and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, at the premier's office at Palazzo Chigi in Rome Friday, Cigi said in a statement.
    The talks touched on the main issues of international politics starting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, focusing on support for Ukraine and the transition process in Syria, also in light of the outcome of the Quint format ministerial meeting hosted in Rome Thursday night by Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, it said.
    The two leaders discussed the strengthening of the international role of the European Union, with particular attention to the further development of collaboration with the Southern Neighborhood and Africa, also in the context of Italy's Mattei Plan fr African development to help stem illegal migrant departures, Chigi said.
    Kallas told ANSA in an interview that it was up to individual EU members to choose their cybersecurity suppliers amid talk of a possible deal with Elon Musk to use his Starlink satellite system, a deal whose reports Meloni has denied as "ridiculous".
    The SpaceX, Tesl and X owner, the world's richest man, has been described as a "genius" by the Italian premier, with whom he has become personal friends.
    He has said he is ready to provide Italy with advanced connectivity amid opposition fears of a possible threat to national security. (ANSA).