Italy must drive EU change says Renzi

(see related)(ANSA) - Brussels, October 20 - Italy must be a driver of change in the European Union ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in March 2017, Premier Matteo Renzi told MEPs from his center-left Democratic Party (PD) ahead of a European summit Thursday. "Italy must be the driver of change at the Rome 2017 summit," he said. "Of course, there was also an assessment post-Bratislava summit, his trip to America, and local elections in Italy, Austria, France and Germany," said European Parliament Deputy Speaker David Sassoli, who relayed Renzi's remarks.
    "But the fundamental political issue is how we get to the Rome conference". The founding Treaty of Rome that led to the creation of the European Economic Community was signed on March 25, 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany and came into force on January 1, 1958. It remains one of the two most important treaties in the modern-day EU.