Intergovernmental consultations with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his cabinet have been launched in Warsaw.

This summit marks the initiation of regular governmental meetings of Poland and Italy, alongside France, Germany and Spain, with issues discussed ranging from the economy to security.

The program of this event includes private talks between both the two heads of government and the foreign ministers, Radosław Sikorski and Franco Frattini, followed by meetings with heads of ministries of internal affairs, finance, and labour, among others. The consultations will end with a plenary session chaired by the premiers. The officials are to look into the candidacies endorsed by the two countries, as Italy does not approve of the Polish candidate, former prime minister Jerzy Buzek and has instead been backing Mario Mauro, the current vice president of the European Parliament.

The consultations coincide with the Economic Dialogue Forum, where top business leaders from the two countries convene to discuss issues such as transport and infrastructure. The event is endorsed by the Confederation of Polish Employers and its Italian counterpart, Confindustria.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is to attend the congress of the European People's Party taking place in Warsaw tomorrow.