Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano says he is not fazed by an apparent rise in
Euroskepticism ahead of European elections.
In an interview for Sunday chat show Che tempo che fa, the
head of State said the roots of the European Union were too
strong and deep to be seriously threatened by anti-European
sentiment.
"There's disappointment, because amid the unprecedented
global economic crisis the EU was late to respond...and it
failed to develop a direct rapport with citizens," he said.
Now, as Euroskeptic parties such as the 5-Star Movement of
comic-turned-politician Beppe Grillo are expected to do well at
May 25 European elections, Napolitano said "the fear is that the
European Parliament would become difficult to govern".
"But I don't believe in a Europe moving backwards," he
added. "By now what's been built between (European) societies,
economies, cultures, and even judicial systems cannot be
destroyed, not even by those who doggedly want it".
Napolitano went on to say that stronger leadership was
needed at the European level, perhaps through direct elections
for an EU president.
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