There will be no negative
fallout from a verbal scuffle between Italy and the European
Commission, EC President Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters
Wednesday.
"Relations between the Commission and the Italian
government, between commissioners, and between myself and my
Italian colleagues and the premier (Matteo Renzi) are good," he
said.
"There was a exchange of masculine, virile words, but this
is normal in times of democracy and will have no consequences,"
Juncker said.
Last week Juncker blasted Renzi for offending the EU
executive at "every opportunity".
There has been tension between Rome and Brussels in recent
months over several issues, including the refugee crisis, budget
flexibility and bank rescues.
Renzi said on Facebook Tuesday that Italy has regained its
leadership role and that those who do not like it must "deal
with it".
Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre
Moscovici tried to take the heat out of the row on Wednesday,
saying the Commission has no quarrel with Italy.
"The Commission can't be accused of acting against Italy -
this is absolutely wrong," he said, adding he respects Italy, a
founding member of the European Union, and Premier Matteo
Renzi's reform drive.
"There is no war (with Italy)," he said.
"We must lower the tensions and work together with maximum
objectivity," he said on the sidelines of the January 20-23
World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos.
On Tuesday a key ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel,
European People's Party (EPP) caucus leader Manfred Weber, fed
the row by saying Renzi was undermining the EU's credibility.
But Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert on Wednesday denied
that the German government was behind criticism of Renzi.
"When Jean-Claude Juncker speaks, he speaks as president
of the European Commission," Seibert said.
Italian government sources said Deputy Industry Minister
Carlo Calenda will on Wednesday be tapped as Italy's new
ambassador to the European Union, replacing Stefano Sannino.
Calenda's appointment will be formalised at a cabinet
meeting Wednesday night, they said.
Calenda will be the first career politician to be named as
envoy to Brussels after a string of career diplomats.
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