ROME — For many political observers, last week’s summit meeting of European Union leaders produced a clear winner, Prime Minister Mario Monti of Italy, who gained approval of measures intended to help hold down his country’s burgeoning debt costs.

They say the deal weakened the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who was forced to make concessions. Yet when the two leaders met Wednesday in Rome to discuss the future of the euro zone, the message — publicly, at least — was of unity and cooperation.

Italy and Germany are “willing to work together” to overcome the crisis afflicting the currency bloc, Ms. Merkel said Wednesday ahead of a meeting of German and Italian officials and business executives. Mr. Monti said both countries understood the need to cede some sovereignty to build a stronger Europe.

The tenor was quite different last week, when Mr. Monti and the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, pushed through an agreement that euro zone bailout funds could be channeled directly to ailing banks rather than funneled through their respective national governments. Going through the governments would have added to their national debt, sending borrowing costs higher. Interest rates for Italy and Spain this year have periodically reached levels that are considered unsustainable. The new guidelines represented a significant concession by Ms. Merkel.