No fallout from 'virile' Italy-EU exchange says Juncker

(ANSA) - Brussels, January 20 - 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.