Renzi sees reformed Italy becoming European leader

(ANSA) - New York, September 28 - Premier Matteo Renzi has said he sees Italy overtaking Germany to become Europe's leader if it continues with the reforms his government has started. "If Italy carries out the structural reforms that are necessary over the next 10 years, it will become the leader of Europe, more than Germany," Renzi said at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. Renzi's government has embarked on an ambitious reform programme, including overhauls of the labour market, civil service, education and justice systems. The administration is also pushing through a Constitutional reform bill to revamp Italy's slow, costly political machinery. Renzi said Italy had enormous potential and opportunities while complaining that "the real problem is Europe's lack of vision".
    He told reporters on the sidelines of the 70th United Nations General Assembly, which he addresses on Tuesday, that a meeting with investors went "very well" and "the climate is one of recovered confidence in Italy". He went on to say that "w decide which taxes to cut, not the eurobureaucrats in Brussels". "The EU's job is not to put its oar in on a State's ultimate choices...it must not make decisions in place of single governments," Renzi said.
    His remarks came after a European Union report on Monday suggested Italy shift taxes from labour to consumer spending, property and the environment.
    However the Italian premier pledged his government will get rid of a widely-hated property tax on first homes "for everyone, forever".
    As well, Renzi said Italy will not be intervening military in Syria although it is ready to help end the civil war there.
    "Italy will do its part without intervening," he said. "If the position of the entire international community on Syria had been the same, we would have resolved the issue ages ago". The premier spoke after rightwing, anti-immigrant Northern League leader Matteo Salvini, said the premier "has no balls" and called for military intervention in Libya and Syria.