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.
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