Italy's new economy minister Giovanni Tria postponed a meeting with his French counterpart in Paris on Wednesday as a diplomatic row spiraled over Rome's refusal to take in an overcrowded migrant ship.

Axar.az reports citing AFP.

Tria had been due to meet his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire in Paris Wednesday afternoon before announcing the talks were cancelled.

Soon after however the French economy ministry said that both ministers had spoken over the phone and had "agreed that Mr Tria will come to Paris in the coming days".

The initial cancellation came via a tweet from the Italian economy ministry's Twitter account which also confirmed that Tria's meeting with German Economy Minister Olaf Scholz scheduled for Thursday would go ahead in Berlin.

Le Maire had initially responded with "regret" at Tria's decision, adding that he had "many important subjects to discuss with Mr Tria" ahead of EU summit at the end of June.