European People's Party
(EPP) caucus leader Manfred Weber of Germany said Tuesday that
Italian Premier Matteo "Renzi is jeopardizing the credibility of
Europe to the benefit of populism". Weber told the European
Parliament "when we see that Italy is not willing to help Turkey
unless there is a trade-off, all that hurts Europe, its strength
and credibility". Italy is resisting a three-billion-euro
package to help Turkey cope with Syrian migrants over concerns
that national governments, and not the EU's common fund, may
foot too much of the bill. Weber, a key ally of German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, was also speaking amid a row between
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, also of the
EPP, and Renzi over alleged "insults" against the EC and barbs
over migrants, economic flexibility, banks and other issues.
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