Comments on migration by the French interior minister have triggered a diplomatic spat with Italy, reports the BBC.
In an interview on Thursday, Gérald Darmanin said Italian PM Georgia Meloni was "unable to solve the migration problems on which she was elected".
Italy's foreign minister called the remarks "unacceptable" and pulled out of a scheduled trip to Paris.
In a bid to defuse the row, the French foreign ministry said it wished to work with Italy on common challenges.
This year Italy has seen a dramatic rise in arrivals by sea from Tunisia, where authorities have launched a campaign against undocumented migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.
Most of the 42,000 people arriving from North Africa this year have come from Tunisia, prompting Italy to declare a state of emergency.
The sharp rise in numbers came as a setback to Ms Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party which won elections last year promising to crack down on irregular immigration.