Italian Premier Matteo Renzi and
British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed on the need to
overhaul the European Union, with the former saying it has
become a hotbed of bureaucracy during a bilateral meeting in
London Tuesday.
Renzi also won a strong endorsement from Cameron for his
ambitious programme to reform Italy's slow, expensive political
apparatus and reverse the path of decline its economy seems to
have taken in recent years.
Conservative Party leader Cameron said he supported
Renzi's "ambitious measures" adding that: "Europe is behind
Asia. There must be reforms in Brussels too".
Cameron said he backed the direction Renzi wanted to push
Europe towards during Italy's duty presidency of the EU in the
second half of this year.
"The Italian presidency is extremely important," Cameron
said.
"Matteo wants to make growth and jobs the central issues
and we agree".
The 39-year-old, Italy's youngest-ever premier, won a
similar endorsement at a meeting with United States President
Barack Obama on Thursday.
Renzi called for "a better Europe, not more Europe",
adding that Italy "must do its part" and "fight against those
who are afraid of change".
"Recently Europe has lost its dream-like quality and
become only the place of absolute bureaucracy," he said.
"The first challenge to tackle is the vision of Europe
that the next generation will have. This is only possible if it
has a different idea about economic growth".
Cameron is a big critic of the EU too and, while saying he
wants Britain to stay in it, has promised a referendum on
membership if his Conservative party win next year's general
election.
Renzi urged Britain to remain in the union.
There is no Europe, there is no great Europe without the
presence of the United Kingdom," he told a joint news conference
with British Prime Minister David Cameron.
"The presence of the UK in Europe should not be in
discussion. It is absolutely fundamental and crucial for us and
we will work together, I am sure of it," Renzi said.
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