Premier Giorgia Meloni said Thursday
she would be "happy" if European Economic Affairs Commissioner
Paolo Gentiloni kept an eye out for Italy after her two deputy
premiers made disparaging remarks about his allegedly
unpatriotic leanings.
"European commissioners, although they represent nations, when
they are commissioners they represent the European Union," she
said.
"Then since each nation has its own commissioner, it happens
that they keep an eye on the nation they represent.
"I think it is normal and fair and I would be happy if it
happened more for Italy too".
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday
he hoped European Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs
Paolo Gentiloni would not take a hard line in the reform of the
EU's Stability and Growth Pact on budget rules.
"The criticism of Gentiloni came from Matteo Salvini," Tajani
told Radio Anch'io on Radio 1, referring to Wednesday's attack
on the Italian commissioner by Deputy Premier, Transport
Minister and right-wing League leader Salvini.
However, Tajani added that he hoped "Gentiloni works taking into
account that he is also the Italian commissioner, and that his
vision is not that of the hard-line countries regarding the
reform of the Stability and Growth Pact".
On Wednesday Salvini drew strong criticism from opposition
parties after saying that Gentiloni, the only representative of
Italy on the European executive, "acted like a foreigner".
"Instead of making suggestions, he has raised complaints and
criticisms," said Salvini.
"It is fundamental to have European commissioners who defend the
interest of the entire community and the country," he added.
Gentiloni replied indirectly to the criticism during a public
event in Mestre, saying he had the confidence of the Italian
government "by definition".
On Thursday Meloni said she was in favour of either reforming
the Pact, so that it does not mandate the same strict fiscal
discipline as before the COVID pandemic, or "extending the
current norms" which have waived the 3% deficit to GDP limit,
among other things.
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