Brussels / Rome, 07/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday, Italian Foreign Minister Renato Ruggiero resigned after expressing concern for the positions of some of his colleagues in European affairs (see EUROPE of 5 January, p.4). This was met with great regret in several European capitals. French Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine said in a press release that he greatly regretted his colleague's departure, as he had established relations of great trust with his colleague, who enjoyed "considerable esteem in Europe". His German counterpart, Joschka Fischer, expressed himself along the same lines (and German Interior Minister Otto Schily said in an interview published on Monday by La Repubblica that Renato Ruggiero "is part of the small group of those most respected on the international scene". He hoped that Italy's pro-European leaning would not be abandoned). In a more explicit manner, Belgian Foreign Affairs and Finance Ministers, Louis Michel and Didier Reynders, declared respectively that Ruggiero's departure is a "victory for the anti-European tendency" in Italy and that "those who are inward-looking fear that single currency will open the door too wide to European integration" (a reference to the sceptical comments made by several Italian ministers regarding changeover to the euro).
In Brussels, European Commission President Romano Prodi simply said that he has always appreciated the ability, intelligence and European spirit shown by Renato Ruggiero, and that he is tabling on Italy's continued European policy. Commission spokesman Jonathan Faull, who answered questions put to him by the press on Monday, repeated that the Commission does not wish to be involved in the domestic affairs of a Member State. He went on to say that the successes of modern Italy are closely linked to the successes of the European Union. Italy is a major founding country and an important country. There is no doubt about the European commitment of the Italian people. Europe needs Italy just as Italy needs Europe, he said. The spokesman added that the European commitment of a Member State through the action and the acts of its government is appreciated and that there is no reason to believe that Italy's European commitment will not remain entire. Answering questions on Silvio Berlusconi's decision to take on the function of acting Foreign Minister, he replied that the composition of a government is the responsibility of the government concerned. Sometimes the post is covered by the prime minister or another minister. Italy will be normally represented at Community meetings, he said, and there is no reason this should not be so. Furthermore, Gerassimos Thomas, spokesman for Commissioner Solbes, pointed out that events in Italy have had no impact on the rate of the euro (see below for the Commission's report after one week of single currency).
Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament, in answer to questions put to her by Radio France Inter, stressed that she greatly appreciated the "positions taken and the convictions" shown by Renato Ruggiero, who "represented a very considerable element of balance within Mr Berlusconi's government". She said she strongly hoped he would be replaced by someone just as "European" as himself.
In Rome, Silvio Berlusconi announced that he planned to take on the task of interim foreign minister "as long as necessary". Speaking before the press he said "our foreign policy is and will continue to be intrinsically a convinced pro-European policy. Europe is an ideal, a necessity, our determination (…) we have always been pro-European and will remain so; we shall go on fighting for greater cohesion and unity on our continent, and we shall fight for the creation of a single army, and for enlargement to the East". President of the Italian Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who received Silvio Berlusconi at length, had asked the Prime Minister to clearly proclaim the government's pro-European line, whereas the opposition called for a debate in Parliament on this policy. Regarding the duration of the interim, Silvio Berlusconi told Corriere della Sera: "I intend to hold the interim post for at least six months, maybe more". Returning to his polemic with Renato Ruggiero, whom he had constrained in the role of "technician", he said: "It is the leaders who make foreign policy (…). It is the heads of state that are at the meetings of the European Council, not the ministers. We, the leaders, we are the ones who take the decisions". The press also points out that, during this interim period, Mr Berlusconi will be closely seconded by EU Permanent Representative Umberto Vattani, whose name had been cited at the time when the new Berlusconi government was formed as one of the candidates for the post of foreign minister. He is again being mentioned as well as Defence Minister Antonio Martino, European Affairs Minister Rocco Buttiglione, and Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini, President of Alleanza Nazionale, while the President of the House, Pier Ferdinando Casini, does not intend to leave his post.