(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 30 - The Italian government has indicated
European Affairs Minister Raffaele Fitto as its pick for
European Commissioner, Premier Giorgia Meloni announced during a
government meeting on Friday, according to well-informed
sources.
Meloni said she would communicate to European Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen Fitto's name as commissioner "and
I ask everybody to applaud and wish good luck to Raffaele, who
has an extremely difficult and at the same time exciting task
ahead", Meloni told the meeting, according to the sources.
"It is a painful choice for me, and for the government, but it
is a necessary choice".
The premier added the choice is "delicate and very important for
us and for Italy in the coming years.
"Our choice falls on a person who has great experience and who
has been able to govern the responsibilities entrusted to him in
this government with excellent results", Meloni noted.
"We are obviously continuing to work on a role we are asking for
Italy.
"And, although I see many Italians rooting against an adequate
role for our nation, I see no reason to believe that this role
will not be recognized.
"Neither for sympathy or antipathy against our government but
because we are Italy, a founding nation, second manufacture and
third European economy, third member State for population, with
a leading role in many fields.
"And, today, we can also count on renewed political stability
and on an economic stability that few others have in the rest of
Europe", Meloni told the cabinet meeting, after announcing the
designation of Fitto as commissioner, the sources said. (ANSA).
Italy proposes Fitto as European Commissioner
Meloni announces at government meeting