(ANSA) - BELGRADE, OCT 2 - Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Federal Chancellor Frederich Merz met on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit. In addition to the most recent developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, the meeting included an in-depth discussion of European competitiveness, particularly in the automotive sector, ahead of the European Council's climate issues debate on October 23 and 24. The two leaders also discussed preparations for the upcoming bilateral summit on January 23, emphasising their shared determination to take another significant step forward in political and economic cooperation between the two countries. (ANSA).