Premier Matteo Renzi said
Tuesday that the European Union must change or risk becoming the
world's economic tailender in a speech in the European
Parliament in Strasbourg to close Italy's six-month duty
presidency of the union.
"I think that Europe (must) either change gear in the
economy or we'll become the tailenders in a rapid-changing
world," said the Italian premier, who said he was pleased the
Italian presidency had made progress in getting greater
flexibility in the application of EU budget rules.
But he added that more was needed.
"In our opinion, we are going in the right direction, but
we have to do more," Renzi said.
"We are ready to do our bit, to believe in investment...
in six months there has been a profound change of direction, not
yet seen in the actions".
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on
hailed Italy's duty president of the European Union as having
"inspiring elements", adding that Rome had "done a good job".
He said that Italy had been crucial in the approval of his
300-billion-euro investment plan and said the union would be in
the midst of a "budget crisis" without Rome's work on a budget
agreement for 2014 and 2015.
"Many elements inspiring the actions of the Commission are
due to the enthusiasm of the Italian presidency," he said. "Viva
Italia".
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