Brussels, 30/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - After the vote on the Watson report (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.10), thirty Italian MEPs signed a document on Thursday (on the initiative of Mariotto Segni, member of the Union for a Europe of the Nations group) calling on the Italian government to drop its opposition to including financial crimes and corruption in the list of crimes covered by the European arrest warrant. The Italian government's position sharply contrasts with the commitments made by the Ghent European Council, according to the document. It expresses hope that after the matter has been voted on in the Italian Parliament, Italy will support the Community line. The document signatories include MEPs Napolitano and Imbeni from the Socialist Group; Di Pietro, Rutelli and Formentini from the Liberal Group; and De Mita from the EPP. Mr Segni commented that removing financial crimes from the framework decision would remove all substance from European collaboration in this area.
Giacomo Santini from Forza Italia reacted with force, accusing the left MEPs of systematically putting down the Italian government and Silvio Berlusconi, adding that the Forza Italia MEPs had approved the Watson report on the war against terrorism but had abstained from the vote on the amendment calling for use to be made of strengthened co-operation (Italy is continuing to block this matter).