(supersedes previous)(ANSA) - Brussels, October 12 -
European Parliament Speaker Martin Schulz told ANSA in an
interview Wednesday that he understands Italy's Premier Matteo
Renzi for berating what he called the EU's being at a "frenetic
standstill".
"I share Matteo's sensation of a sort of stagnation in
Europe," he said.
"He's right, there is no progress, and we need progress on
all fronts. I understand the impatience of a highly pro-Europe
premier who wants to take the EU forward. In general, I
understand those who want to talk about concrete results".
Schulz said the positive thing to come out of a
mid-September EU summit in Bratislava was that the EU-27 member
nations at least recognized "the need to stick together".
"I noticed Matteo, who has a candid personality, was not
happy," the EP speaker said. "I find it positive that Germany,
France and Italy tried to discuss post-Brexit strategies,
investment plans, migration, and the entire list of to-do
things".
However he disagrees with Renzi that general elections to
be held in both France and Germany in 2017 are hampering the EU.
Asked whether he would ask French President Francois Hollande
and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to think more about Europe
and less about their voters at home, Schulz replied: "Hollande
has made forward-thinking EU proposals in several speeches".
"The fact that the three countries are leading the EU
together is an objective reached," he added. "I don't see any
reluctance, but clearly the future of the EU will play a role in
the vote in Germany and in France".
Italy needs budget flexibility to cope with the asylum
seeker emergency and with reconstruction after a devastating
August 24 quake in central Italy, he added.
Schulz said he "understood" the requests but "they must
remain within the limits (set by) the Treaties". He said
"Germans want the rules to be respected. Italy asks for
solutions within the framework of the rules. It's a normal
debate".
Italy is asking to be allowed to bump up its 2017 budget
deficit from 2.0% to 2.4% to help pay for the two emergencies,
but the European Commission and northern European budget hawks
are reportedly demanding it settle for less.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
