FRANCE, ITALY SEAL PACT

ITALIAN Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a treaty on Friday to strengthen bilateral ties at a time when European diplomacy is being tested by the departure of Germany’s Angela Merkel. The Quirinale Treaty aims to enhance co-operation between Paris and Rome in areas including defence, migration, the economy, culture and trade. The signing ceremony comes after a new coalition pact was agreed in Germany.

| Reuters