Brussels, 29/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - As expected, Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato paid a visit to the European Commission on Wednesday. The visit began with talks with President Prodi and was then followed by a wide exchange of views between Mr. Amato and the Commission as a whole. Preparations for and prospects of the Nice Summit were discussed at length, as well as several specific issues relating to either European policies (maritime safety, "mad cow", Social Agenda) or problems specifically linked to Italy.
Down in the press room, Amato and Prodi referred to a very large convergence of views between the Commission and Italy, and broad agreement over Europe's future. The former stressed that Italy would be presenting itself in Nice as few others could do, that is to say, without demanding retention of the rule of unanimity for any of the areas that could be moved to qualified majority voting: this, not through "easy Europeanism" but through conviction, the conviction that for these crucial issues, the interests of each are better protected through European responses. Asked about the possibility of Italy not accepting the "institutional reform" if it does not regard it as sweeping enough, he wanted to show himself optimistic by saying that it was possible to arrive at an acceptable outcome; and Mr. Prodi shared in this opinion, stating that progress was still possible in these final days. Mr. Amato did not wish to provide details on the Italian position, pointing out that the Italian Parliament (through an almost unanimous vote, bringing together both the majority and the opposition) had instructed him to "negotiate" in Nice over the best possible solutions.
Both Amato and Prodi disputed any idea that enlargement could worsen the drama of illegal immigration; on the contrary, the Commission President pointed out, facts prove that when prospects for development appear in a poor country, the tendency to emigrate weakens, and, anyhow, accessions will allow for illegal immigration to be more tightly controlled.
Mr. Amato, moreover, declared that he considered the Eurogroup (ministerial group of the countries of the Euro zone) as the "expression of enhanced cooperation", along the lines of what the Treaty of Nice will opt for.