Renzi: No conflict with the EU. Barroso reprimands: More expenditure is not an intelligent choice

At the end of the Council, the Italian Prime Minister reaffirms that he was not there “to panhandle.” The Italian Semester, said, will be “a great bet” because “a Europe talking solely about intangible obligations without realising it is losing an entire generation is a wrong Europe.”

No “conflictual relation,” yet “I’m not the one coming here with a subordinate a supine approach, asking for charity.” This is how Matteo Renzi, after his first official European Council, summarised the relation between the Italian government and the European Union institutions. Talking off the cuff, shirt but no blazer, from the new podium that has been installed for the purpose in the Italian press room instead of the old desk, Renzi reassured that the rumors about tensions and tit for tat are just journalistic reconstructions. “I really don’t feel like that,” he wanted to underline: there’s “enormous trust” and “a great will of betting on Europe, that it not past, it is future.” Yet frm this to come to the EU institution with “subordinate” approach there’s no comparison: “There’s no feeling of cultural inferiority, we are not here to be dictated,” the Prime Minister underlined, “it is called Commission yet it’s not an examination panel.”

Well, the Commission is examinating, actually. The meeting with Renzi was “great,” said Barroso at the end of the meeting, “he explained me the reforms he wants to implement and they follow the right path, some of them are historical,” he added to the Italian broadcasting channel SkyTG24. Yet the President of the European Commission warned the Italian Prime Minister: it’s a big no-no to the “simplistic idea” of growth obtained by raising public expenditure only. As Barroso reminded, in fact, the ECB President Mario Draghi “told the European leaders to be careful, it is not by raising public expenditure that you will get more growth, it’s the contrary indeed, the best thing for creating growth is reforming in order to attract investments and increasing competitiveness.” And the President of the Commission completely agrees with this idea because, he said, “in the end the increased expenditure will be paid by taxpayers, hence this is not the right choice” to relaunch the recovery. “The States which have reformed the most in terms of public accounts,” he added, “were also the ones getting the best results, because they coupled that adjustment with structural reforms.”

Well, as he said and reiterad, Renzi does not want “given homework” by the European Union because Italy “is aware of its figures”: the “second manufacturing economy in Europe, the second in Europe dealing with exports, it has some of the best economic performances and a private wealth well over public debt,” he listed with optimistic voice. The “task of the head of a government is to restore trust and,” he added, “we’ll do it,” without failing European commitments.

Furthermore, Italy will soon play a leading role in Europe, with the Presidency to be taken in July. That will not be the occasion for amending the Fiscal Compact, he said, “because our country has undertaken this commitment and will respect it.” But the Presidency will be the occasion for a deep review of Europe: the semester Italy expects “is a semester dedicated to innovation, digital agenda, climate change” because “a Europe talking solely about intangible obligations, far from citizens’ everyday life, without realising it is losing an entire generation is a wrong Europe,” he added.

According to the Prime Minister, hence, the Presidency is not only a “bureaucratic” commitment, it is “the occasion for betting on Europe,” to which Italy shall be appropriately prepared: “Italy can approach this appointment with lot to say and lot to give only if it can make a remarkable work on reforms during the following weeks.” If reforms are the point, “the point of reforms is timing.”

Italy has already accelerated, said the Prime Miniser, and it is clear in consideration of the laws under discussion lately, as the reform of the Senate and the review of the Fifth Title of the Italian Constitution – for which a draft law of reform will be submitted, announced Renzi, “within March.”

Yet, another moment of truth for the position of Italian citizens towards the EU institutions will be represented by the European Parliament elections to be held on 25 May. In this context “it is crucial that all the competing parties have the strenght and the intelligence of discussing about Europe,” said Renzi. “The main thing is, which kind of Europe do we have in mind?” The debate cannot be focused between the ones “wanting the Eurexit” and the ones “wanting Europe as a simple group of rule. Who says ‘let’s dismiss the euro’ does not understand. You get out of the single currency, and then?”

Dealing with elections, the Prime Minister has also reiterated “the Democratic Party is not to include its Secretary into the electoral list.”

Letizia Pascale