01/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - Federalists appreciate Marcegaglia. Italian federalists have responded positively to the ideas proposed over recent days by the president of Italian business leaders, Emma Marcegaglia, on Italy's role in Europe and prospects for a United States of Europe. In a press release, the CIME (European Movement's Italian Council) emphasised that the declarations by Marcegaglia “go in the same direction as the joint document of the Italian unions for the ETUC (European Trade Union Congress) Congress in Athens”. The CIME points out that it has set up a “laboratory for Italy in Europe”, which is open to social parties for the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament in June 2014 and for the next Italian presidency of the Council of the EU, in the second half of 2014. The president of the Italian branch of the Union of European Federalists (UEF), Lucio Levi, has sent a letter to Marcegaglia congratulating her on her speech. The UEF will be promoting a “citizens' initiative” in an effort to help develop the EU's own resources (Union-bonds and a carbon tax), as a way of helping to develop the project for a United States of Europe. (Gp/transl.fl)