Italian Premier Calls for United Political Action in Europe Amid Key Appointments
In a significant address to the Senate on Tuesday, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni emphasized the urgency for all Italian political parties to actively participate within their European political groups. This plea comes in light of Raffaele Fitto's recent appointment as commissioner and vice president in the new European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, ahead of the upcoming European Council scheduled for October 17-18.
Meloni, accompanied by deputy premiers Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, voiced her hope that Italian political forces would unite for the national interest. "I hope that all Italian political forces will become active within their European political families so this result can be reached by our nation quickly and without glitches," remarked Meloni. She underscored the need for national interest to take precedence over political partisanship, stating, "There are moments in which national interest must prevail over partisanship. I hope this is one of them, without distinctions and without hesitations."
The significance of this appeal is underscored by the fact that last month, Von der Leyen proposed six executive vice presidents for the EU's new executive, including Italy's own Raffaele Fitto, who will oversee cohesion and reforms. Fitto, also Italy's European affairs minister and a prominent figure in Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, is tasked with managing the post-COVID National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) funds in collaboration with Valdis Dombrovskis, the commissioner-designate for the economy.
During her address, Meloni expressed confidence in Fitto's capabilities, highlighting that the joint responsibility for overseeing the NRRP represents an opportunity for Italy to advocate for necessary additional flexibility in investments. She noted that this demand has historically been an Italian position and has seen initial acceptance with the recent reform of the Stability Pact.
In addition to discussing Italy's European political strategy, Meloni reiterated her government's commitment to supporting Ukraine. "The European Council will stress once again its support to the Ukrainian cause to build a fair and long-lasting peace and help it look at a future of prosperity and well-being," she affirmed.
Defending Ukraine's sovereignty, she asserted, aligns with Italy's and Europe’s interests. "In her address, the premier also addressed recent attacks on UNIFIL by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). While no significant damages or casualties were reported, she deemed the situation unacceptable and stated, "This is the position Italy has taken with determination at all levels. We demand that the security of our soldiers is guaranteed both within UNIFIL and in the bilateral mission, which, together with the rest of the international community, has contributed for years to the stability of the border between Israel and Lebanon."
Meloni denounced the attitude of Israeli forces, calling it "totally unjustified" and a violation of UN Resolution 1701. She concluded her remarks by emphasizing the necessity for full compliance with the resolution and strengthening the capabilities of both UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces, reaffirming Italy's commitment to stability in the region.
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