>>>ANSA/Path clears for Fitto to become EC vice president

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 21 - The European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development has greenlighted the appointment to the European Commission of Italy's Raffaele Fitto as an executive vice president with the brief for cohesion and the NRRP after he was vetoed by the Socialists and Democrats because Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group did not vote to confirm Ursula von der Leyen as EC chief or for the NextGenEU programme.
    The ENVI (environment, public health and food safety), ECON (economic and monetary affairs) and ITRE (industry, research and energy) Committees also gave final approval late on Wednesday to the appointment of Spain's Teresa Ribera as executive vice president for the clean, just and competitive transition.
    The vote came after an agreement was reached on the new appointments to the European Commission including Fitto and Ribera, who had been the subject of countervailing vetoes.
    Meloni said Fitto's executive vice presidency represented a victory for all of Italy and gave a new central role to the country.
    "This important appointment attributed to the commissioner designated by Italy is a victory of all Italians, not of the government or a political force", she said.
    The prime minister went on to say that this "confirms Italy's recovered centrality in Europe, worthy of our role as a founding State of the EU, Europe's second manufacturer and the Continent's third economy".
    Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, leader of the Forza Italia (FI) party, meanwhile welcomed the news saying Fitto "will know how to make the most of Italy's contribution to Europe's governance".
    Meanwhile lawmaker Stefano Candiani, a member of the League party led by Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, told the Lower House on Thursday that, "although the party does not back von der Leyen's majority in the EU, it applauds with conviction Fitto's designation, a result for our country for which we must be very satisfied".
    Candiani also remarked the "difference between opposition" and "national interest to be defended".
    Forza Italia is a member of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the League belongs to the right-wing to far-right Patriots for Europe and FdI is a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group.
    And also addressing the House on Thursday, the lawmaker in charge of foreign affairs for the centre-left Democratic Party Giuseppe Provenzano complimented Fitto while stressing "the need to commit to a project of European integration that closes the door to any form of nationalism".
    Green and Left Alliance (AVS) MP Angelo Bonelli, the spokesperson for Green Europe, on Thursday said "after the veto of the EPP (European People's Party) on Socialist commissioner Ribera, wanted by Meloni for Fitto's approval, an agreement has been reached", accusing the European Socialists, EPP and Liberals of "widening the majority to Meloni's far-right".
    The European Greens caucus said they are disappointed at the deal freeing up von der Leyen's new European Commission and would vote against Fitto.
    "We say no, not only because we believe Fitto is responsible of not managing well NRRP funds but because this majority has moved to the right, stopping policies on climate, human and civil rights", said Bonelli.
    Fitto is a leading member of the prime minister's right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party and hitherto Italy's minister for European affairs, the South, cohesion and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
    Centre-right European People's Party (EPP) leader Manfred Weber has commented on the deal clearing the path to Fitto's appointment saying "a balanced approach" was found after the EPP dropped its veto on Spanish Deputy Premier Teresa Ribera following the Valencia floods and the Socialists dropped their veto on Fitto after his Brothers of Italy (FdI) party voted against confirming von der Leyen as EC chair.
    "The most important thing," Weber said, "is to have a Commission in office on December 1st and to have stability in Europe.
    "Socialists, EPP and Liberals (Renew) will have the opportunity to have a strong influence in the next Commission and Italy must also be part of the leadership of the next Commission", he noted.
    Ribera, Spanish deputy premier with the ecological transition brief, had been vetoed by the EPP for her alleged responsibility in the Valencia floods that killed over 220 people.
    The political agreement will be formalized during a plenary session of the European Parliament scheduled to take place on November 27 when MEPs will vote on whether to endorse commissioners. (ANSA).