Strasbourg, 15/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - After Forza Italia's electoral victory last Sunday, Hans-Gert Pöttering, German President of the EPP/ED Group, said at a press conference on Tuesday, in Strasbourg, that his group did not doubt that Italy would pursue its good tradition in European policy. The European CDU elected member, who recalled that Forza Italia belongs to the European People's Party (and not only the EPP Group at the European Parliament) noted that this will provide frequent opportunities to meet with the members of the new Italian government. Well-known pro-Europeans like Pier Ferdinando Casini (Ed.: who may become foreign minister) and Rocco Buttiglione will be part of this government, remarked Mr Pöttering. He said he hoped that this change of majority in Italy would strike a new balance within the EU Council, where governments headed by Socialists or Social Democrats are currently predominant. The choice of foreign minister will be of "very decisive importance" and, in reply to a question, Mr Pöttering said he expected that the minister chosen would be a "convinced European". Would an ally like Umberto Bossi be dangerous? To this question, Mr Pöttering simply replied that racist or xenophobic declarations of any kind must be condemned, wherever they come from. In response to a journalist who asked him about the "conflict of interest" represented by the fact that a prime minister has control over the major media channels, Mr Pöttering stressed the importance of the freedom of the press in Russia and said that media pluralism is a "fundamental value" valid everywhere and that he expected this problem of Silvio Berlusconi would be settled in a way that guarantees pluralism.
The left-wing groups, on the other hand, expressed their concern about Silvio Berlusconi's return to power and about the alliances that Forza Italia would form in order to govern. Silvio Berlusconi's electoral victory "does not mean he is above suspicion", given that trials against him are still pending, Heidi Hautala, Finnish Co-President of the Greens/ALE Group, told the press on Tuesday. She denounced the domination of Mr Berlusconi in the media just at a time when, she said, an effort is being made to attenuate concentration of the media, "for democracy's sake". It will be necessary to "monitor carefully" the developments of the situation in Italy, she noted. This was also the view of Francis Wurtz, French President of the United Left/European Green Left. Speaking to the press, he announced the greatest "vigilance" in the face of each decision to be taken by the new Italian government, while assuring that "we cannot give lessons to Italian voters". Mr Wurtz believes the coming to power of a "man accused of such serious things" and who has "xenophobic and post-fascist allies" is a "political tragedy" for European democracy. Luisa Morgantini, Italian GUE parliamentarian, said for her part that the opposition must now carry out a "serious political and cultural battle" in Italy against domination by wealth. She reproached the leader of Forza Italia for having adopted a "Saddam Hussein style" ("there were more posters with Berlusconi's effigy on them than those for Saddam in Iraq", she commented).
Baron stresses that Italy will chair EU Council at a crucial moment for the future of Europe - An
inquiry into the Commission's competition services?
"We must judge the new Italian government on facts, as it is difficult to do so on the basis of "such a vague" programme, Enrique Baron Crespo, Spanish President of the Socialist Group, told the press. He noted that some announcements concerning the future taxation policy "cause us concern", as they give rise to fears concerning compliance with the Stability Pact (while, "thanks to the Prodi government and to the Ulivo", Italy was able to enter the euro-zone, he noted). Mr Baron also recalled that Italy will preside the EU Council "at a decisive moment in the debate on the future of Europe" (Ed.: the second half of 2003, a date when the Mendez de Vigo-Seguro report requests the convening of the next IGC on institutional reform), and that it is very important to know what the "European vision" of the new government is. Regarding the conflict of interest, Mr Baron felt "it would perhaps be interesting if the Commission were to consider issues that may affect competition at European level".
Pat Cox, President of the Liberal Group which to date has included two persons at the head of lists in Italian elections, Francesco Rutelli and Antonio Di Pietro, regretted that the latter's formation did not top 4%. He did, however, welcome Mr Rutelli's results which, he said, demonstrated his "considerable credibility" as a leader of the opposition and of "La Margherita". Mr Cox noted that Silvio Berlusconi should be personally congratulated for his success, which clearly reflects the "democratic will of voters" in Italy. In addition, he welcomed the fact that Mr Berlusconi had recognised the need to settle the question of the potential "conflict of interest" arising from his place in the world of the media.