France sees ‘no reason’ to oppose extradition of Italian militants

France sees “no reason” to oppose the extradition of former Italian militants sought by Rome, one of the irritants between the neighbours, a minister said in an interview published Monday.

French European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau revised France’s long-standing position not to extradite political militants who had renounced their armed struggle.

“Judges will work this out among them, case by case… but there is no reason to oppose a possible extradition,” the minister told Le Monde newspaper.

“I think that our country has for a long time underestimated the trauma of terrorism in Italy or Spain, which we have treated with indifference.”

Italian authorities said in January they were still hunting 30 “terrorists” on the run abroad, after a far-left militant was jailed ending 37 years as a fugitive.

Italy’s government, led by a populist coalition, has repeatedly sparred with French President Emmanuel Macron on a number of issues, including rising nationalism in Europe and the migration crisis in the Mediterranean.

Earlier this month, France recalled its ambassador to Rome in protest over a meeting between Italy’s deputy prime minister and anti-government protesters in Paris.

The envoy returned to Rome last week, marking a decline in the tensions.