ROME -- Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni was admitted to the capital’s Policlinico Gemelli hospital for an angioplasty after experiencing mild sickness on his way back from Paris, doctors said Wednesday.

 Doctors had to perform surgery on a peripheral blood vessel, which was completed smoothly and successfully.

 The Prime Minister is now fine and alert, and recovering in the intensive cardiological care unit of the Policlinico Gemelli hospital, under the care of Professor Antonio Rebuzzi. However, he will probably have to remain in hospital for a few days.

 This may mean that the PM will have to skip his scheduled meeting Thursday with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

 Gentiloni was on his way back from Paris Tuesday, where he met with the French President François Hollande, on the first stop of his European tour, when he began to feel ill.

 Earlier Tuesday, Gentiloni and Hollande had discussed the future of the European Union and Italy and France’s collaboration -- "France and Italy are committed to re-launching the EU in one of the most difficult moments after Brexit," the priorities being "growth and jobs."

 "There is no future for a Europe concentrated on the budget and not on jobs," continued the Italian PM in the press conference with his French counterpart.

 Gentiloni and Hollande also agreed on the return of migrants without the right to stay in Europe and the need to involve Libya.  

 It was on his journey back from Paris that the Italian head of government began to feel unwell, and was taken to Rome’s Policlinico Gemelli hospital.

 The undersecretary of state for the Foreign Affairs Minister Benedetto Della Vedova said Wednesday -- “I heard from Gentiloni this morning. I am certain that he will reassume his functions as soon as possible.”

 “I know Gentiloni as a very strong and calm person. It could be that these things will serve to intercept others that in the future could have become something more serious,” Della Vedova concluded.

 Many politicians have tweeted get well soon messages to the Italian Prime Minister.

 nkd