Premier Paolo Gentiloni said after
an informal EU summit Friday that "our message on a multi-speed
Europe is very simple: we are not talking about a Europe 'a la
carte', we are talking about a reality that is already
happening.
"It is a necessary direction of march because it allows
groups of countries to take steps forward, when there is
agreement among them," Gentiloni went on at the press
conference.
"But it is a choice that has to be made within the framework
of the Treaties, enabling all to join and without any logic of
exclusion".
Gentiloni said the multi-speed Europe idea had not been
hatched by the countries that recently met at Versailles -
Germany, France, Italy and Spain - "against the others, or the
westerners against the Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Hungary,
Poland and Slovakia).
The Visegrad Group has come out against the idea of a
multi-speed Europe.
The idea, Gentiloni said, "is a message that says Europe must
respond to the demands of its citizens and must do so with a
flexibility and rapidity that cannot depend on the fact that one
or two countries have the power to prevent it".
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, for his
part, said that the multi-speed Europe idea would not create a
new "Iron Curtain" between East and West.
Juncker said "the idea is for those who want to do more to be
able to do so".
The Italian premier also stressed that he was against a
"two-rigities Europe, very rigid on the budget and very tolerant
on migrant relocation policy".
Four EU priorities in a 10-year perspective will be
indicated at the March 25 Rome summit marking the 60th
anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, Gentiloni said after the
Brussels summit.
The priorities are a Europe of defence and security in the
management of migrant flows; of growth and sustainable
development and employment; a social Europe; and a Europe with a
role in a world of trade and markets.
Italy was in favour of a convergence of social policies, the
Italian premier said.
"Everyone is aware of how important the Rome Declaration
will be," said Gentiloni, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel
said she was "optimistic" that a "good" Declaration of Rome
could be framed.
He said the Rome summit would be "an opportunity to relaunch
the European project".
Among other remarks, Gentiloni also said that if Europe did
not provide "prospects" in the Balkans, it would lead to
tensions.
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