“Italy’s voice in Europe will be strong”

On her first official visit to Brussels since coming to power in Italy, the post-fascist Giorgia Meloni has put aside the eurosceptic and nationalist rhetoric on which he has based his entire political career and he has exhibited a moderate and conciliatory profile, almost Euro-enthusiast. An offensive of charm with which Meloni tries to appease the fear and alarm that his election has generated in the EU, which reinforces the radical and obstructionist right-wing axis in Poland and Hungary.

Meloni has met in Brussels with the leaders of the three EU institutions: the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola; the head of the commission Ursula von der Leyenand the President of the European Council, Charles-Michel. A visit with which I wanted to make it clear that “Italy’s voice in Europe will be strong”but that their will is not to stop or sabotage European integration but to collaborate to find solutions following the rules.

[La UE se prepara resignada para relaciones turbulentas con la Italia de la ultra Giorgia Meloni]

The EU leaders, too, have carefully avoided any embarrassment: it was all smiles. “Italy has always had a central role in the EU. More than ever, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, skyrocketing energy prices, and rising inflation, we must stick together. We are stronger if we are together “, Metsola said.

“Thank you Giorgia Meloni for the strong signal sent by your visit to the EU institutions on your first trip abroad. It has been a good opportunity to discuss critical issues ranging from support for Ukraine and energy to Next Generation funds for Italy and migration,” Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter. The President of the Commission starred in the anecdote of the day when I was late for the meeting because it was in the morning in Berlin and his return was complicated due to bad weather.

The Italian Prime Minister explained that the most important issues for her in the EU are the impact of war on Ukraine and “the need to give concretion as soon as possible to a European solution to rising energy costs”. Meloni has also discussed with the EU leaders how to “better spend” the Next Generation funds. His third priority is immigration policy and emphasis that your government wants to place on the “defense of the external borders”.

The pragmatism exhibited by Meloni in Brussels is explained because Italy is in a financial position so fragile that he cannot afford a confrontation with their EU partners. Rome is the main beneficiary of the Next Generation funds, with a total of 191.5 billion euros. The new prime minister wants to modify the recovery plan designed by her predecessor, Mario Draghi, but she assures that she will do so in agreement with Brussels.

[La victoria de Giorgia Meloni refuerza en la UE a la derecha dura de Polonia y Hungría]

With a debt that exceeds 150% of GDP, Italy also depends on the coverage of the European Central Bank to finance itself. In his investiture speech, Meloni was particularly critical of the institution led by Christine Lagarde for putting an end to the purchase of public debt and raising rates. A decision that has created “an additional difficulty for those Member States that, like ours, have a high public debt.”

In that speech, the new Italian Prime Minister offered in detail her vision of the EU and the Rome lace. “In the European institutions, Italy will make its strong voice heard, as befits a great founding nation. Not to slow down or sabotage European integration, as I have heard on occasion, even in recent weeks, but to help steer it towards greater effectiveness in responding to crises and external threats and bringing it closer to citizens and businesses,” he said.

“We do not conceive the European Union as an elitist circle, with Shareholders and Shareholders of Series B or, worse, as a corporation and directed by a Board of Directors, with the only task of having the accounts in order. For us, the EU is the common home of the peoples of Europe And, as such, it must be able to face the great challenges of our time, starting with those that member states can hardly face alone, “says Meloni.

“A common European house certainly means shared rules also in the economic-financial field. This Government will respect the rules currently in force and, at the same time, will offer its contribution to change those that have not workedbeginning with the ongoing debate on the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact“warns the Italian Prime Minister.