>>>ANSA/Italy won't accept Pact it can't respect says Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 6 - The government will not agree to a reform of the EU Stability and Growth Pact if it sees the new budget rules as being untenable, Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday.
    The EU member States are currently negotiating a reform of the Pact, which has been suspended since the COVID pandemic exploded in 2020.
    If they fail to reach an agreement in theory by December 8, the deadline set for the end of negotiations, the old fiscal rules on debt and deficit will come back into force next year.
    "You cannot say yes to a reform of the Pact, if then you cannot respect it," Meloni told Rtl 102.5 radio.
    "These are hours of intense negotiations. It's a very delicate time.
    "We believe that, in order to be serious, Europe must take into account the strategies it has set in the new governance rules.
    "We have the NRRP (EU-funded post-Covid National Recovery and Resilience Plan, ed.), the digital-energy transition.
    "You cannot fail to take into account the investments that Europe is asking for. We are doing our best to achieve an effective but reasonable compromise," said Meloni.
    Meloni and Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti have both long insisted that the new governance rules need to take account of "strategic investments" made on the basis of the priorities indicated by the EU.
    Rome has also made ratification of the treaty for the new European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the EU's bailout mechanism, conditional upon the outcome of the negotiations for the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact.
    On next year's European elections, the premier said she would like to see the model of her ruling coalition, featuring both right-wing and centre-right parties, tried at the EU level.
    She herself is leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, which has its roots in the post-World War II neo-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI).
    Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini has been pressing hard for an alliance between the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) and parties like his right-wing League so it is not necessary for the EPP to agree a new pact with the Socialists.
    However, Meloni's other deputy premier, Foreign Minister and centre-right Forza Italia (FI) leader Antonio Tajani, has ruled out the EPP teaming up with groups considered by some to be far right, such as Germany's AfD and France's National Rally.
    "Aside from the different nuances of the (Italian) ruling-majority parties, which are a resource, the underlying cohesion is clear," Meloni told Rtl 102.5 radio.
    "I think that we must in some way try to build what we have managed to do in Italy in Europe as well.
    "Today we have a great opportunity.
    "The possible scenario is one in which we manage to build a ruling-majority that is more compatible in terms of its vision in the European Parliament.
    "We could end up with European institutions in which Italy counts for much more: that is my goal, the goal of the ruling majority".
    Separately on Wednesday European Parliament President Roberta Metsola described Meloni as a "very strong pro-EU woman" and that "when she speaks you can see that Italy matters".
    "That is why we are counting on her. And I will count not only on her friendship but on her leadership," Metsola told journalist Bruno Vespa during the programme Cinque minuti (Five minutes).
    "This year Italy will take over the presidency of the G7, it will be a very important year because we will be able to see the premier with her ministers leading these countries," she added.
    On next year's European elections, Metsola said she wants "the Italians to be able to find candidates they can trust so that we can continue to build this European project, which is fragile".
    "I am convinced that only the pro-European centre can provide solutions for the future of the European union," she added.
    (ANSA).