Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti
said Saturday that the European Union must have a clear vision
about where it wants to go, if it intends to play a major role
in the international arena.
"The world is changing rapidly, geopolitical and geo-economic
balances of power are being reset and the European Union must
set a clear course for itself, if it wants to play both an
economic and political role," Giorgetti told ANSA on the
sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministerial Meeting in Rio de
Janeiro.
He said that the formation of a new European Commission after EU
elections "is the equivalent to having a body - it takes about
nine months.
"The only European institution that travels along without any
problems is the central bank," he added.
"All the rest struggles to find precise governance".
He said that the government was aiming for Italy's member of the
new Commission to have a major economic brief.
"The (negotiation) process has started, with the request for
names (from the Commission)," he said.
"It is accepted that Italy, as a great EU founding country, is
entitled to an important position.
"And it is known that we ask for economic portfolios.
"Reconfirming the (economic affairs) portfolio that is now
(Paolo) Gentiloni's, seems unlikely to me".
MEPs from Giorgetti's League party and from Premier Giorgia
Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) both voted against
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's re-election
and both parties belong to groups that are not in the ruling
alliance in the European Parliament.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
