Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said his nation will use the next six months to push for growth across Europe, not to seek leeway for its own benefit.
Renzi pledged Italy will follow through with its own promised economic changes as it takes over the European Union’s presidency, speaking today to lawmakers in Strasbourg, France.
He said Italy contributes more to the EU budget than it receives and will approach its leadership role in the same spirit.
“We come here with conviction and determination and courage and the pride of someone who represents a major country, who comes to the European institutions not to beg for something but to offer something,” Renzi said in remarks to the European Parliament.
Italy and France led calls for a more flexible interpretation of EU budget rules at last week’s summit in Belgium. Leaders pledged to allow the “best use” of the existing framework, without offering any promise of loosening the requirements themselves.
Under the rules, countries are required to narrow their budget deficits to within 3 percent of gross domestic product and then move toward a balanced budget while continuing to reduce debt.
Lawmakers from Germany have pushed to adhere strictly to the targets, hailing bailed-out countries like Greece and Portugal as examples of how nations can and should make needed changes when pushed by their peers.
“We need to learn the lessons of the crisis, we cannot allow debt to build up in Europe,” said Manfred Weber, who heads the European legislature’s largest voting bloc and is allied with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to reporters yesterday.
“You cannot have a union in which larger member states, that is Italy and France, do not stick to such conclusions. You cannot have the rules being watered down for larger countries.”
Renzi said Italy takes responsibility for its own problems and will follow through on pledges to address its tax framework, legal system and bureaucratic structures.
“We know before we ask for anyhing else we have to call on ourselves for the force to change if we want to be credible,” he said.
He reiterated Italy’s support for the budget rules, while also urging the EU to put as much emphasis othing else we have to call on ourselves for the force to change if we want to be credible,” he said.
He reiterated Italy’s support for the budget rules, while also urging the EU to put as much emphasis on growth as it has on stability.
Europe needs to ask itself whether it wants to catch up with the rest of the world or not, Renzi said. For now, he said, the 28-nation region presents a tired face to the world.
“Europe’s selfie would be a bored selfie,” Renzi said.
bloomberg.com
Renzi pledged Italy will follow through with its own promised economic changes as it takes over the European Union’s presidency, speaking today to lawmakers in Strasbourg, France.
He said Italy contributes more to the EU budget than it receives and will approach its leadership role in the same spirit.
“We come here with conviction and determination and courage and the pride of someone who represents a major country, who comes to the European institutions not to beg for something but to offer something,” Renzi said in remarks to the European Parliament.
Italy and France led calls for a more flexible interpretation of EU budget rules at last week’s summit in Belgium. Leaders pledged to allow the “best use” of the existing framework, without offering any promise of loosening the requirements themselves.
Under the rules, countries are required to narrow their budget deficits to within 3 percent of gross domestic product and then move toward a balanced budget while continuing to reduce debt.
Lawmakers from Germany have pushed to adhere strictly to the targets, hailing bailed-out countries like Greece and Portugal as examples of how nations can and should make needed changes when pushed by their peers.
“We need to learn the lessons of the crisis, we cannot allow debt to build up in Europe,” said Manfred Weber, who heads the European legislature’s largest voting bloc and is allied with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to reporters yesterday.
“You cannot have a union in which larger member states, that is Italy and France, do not stick to such conclusions. You cannot have the rules being watered down for larger countries.”
Renzi said Italy takes responsibility for its own problems and will follow through on pledges to address its tax framework, legal system and bureaucratic structures.
“We know before we ask for anyhing else we have to call on ourselves for the force to change if we want to be credible,” he said.
He reiterated Italy’s support for the budget rules, while also urging the EU to put as much emphasis othing else we have to call on ourselves for the force to change if we want to be credible,” he said.
He reiterated Italy’s support for the budget rules, while also urging the EU to put as much emphasis on growth as it has on stability.
Europe needs to ask itself whether it wants to catch up with the rest of the world or not, Renzi said. For now, he said, the 28-nation region presents a tired face to the world.
“Europe’s selfie would be a bored selfie,” Renzi said.
bloomberg.com
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