Juncker says he has no Renzi problem, but will defend EC

(ANSA) - Brussels, November 5 - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday that he had "no problems" with Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, while stressing that he wanted to defend the EC from "sabotage". Juncker had triggered a furor on Tuesday when he hit back at Renzi's criticism of the EU, saying he was not the head of a "gang of bureaucrats" in response to questioning from the European People's Party in the EU parliament.
    On Wednesday, Juncker continued by saying that it was wrong of Renzi to suggest that bureaucrats were responsible everything done by the organization. "To say the Commission is made up of bureaucrats or to say that you do not accept lessons from bureaucrats is not something that I like," said Juncker.
    "I'm the head of 27 political commissioners and we are not bureaucrats, we are politicians". Renzi, who has previously complained about bureaucrats, has said the Commission should "resolve problems, not create them" and that Italy "won't go to Brussels hat in hand, to be told what to do".
    Renzi has lobbied hard for the EU to relax budget rules for recession-bound countries such as Italy, to allow them more room for spending on infrastructure and projects designed to boost the economy.
    That had set him on a collision course with some of the bureaucracy of the relevant EU bodies.
    Outside the latest meetings of EU leaders, Renzi said that the European Union's main problem was not extra budget costs but "technocracy and bureaucracy". And in a television interview with American network CNN on October 3, Renzi said that much of Europe's problem lies with its "management". "Reducing the power of bureaucracy in Europe is of the utmost importance. I think it is absolutely crucial to reduce the level of power of the technocrats in Brussels," the premier said. Juncker said he will never accept unjustified criticism but will instead "energetically counter" such comments. He said he expects more attacks on the Commission but "I am not a guy who holds back," he said, in response to Renzi's criticism of the EU.