Brussels, 08/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine made a further comment on Renato Ruggiero's resignation from his post of Foreign Minister for Italy. She said: "I am today greatly disturbed. I do not understand what has happened, because we were all so pleased that Italy had been successful in joining the euro zone. So why this euro-scepticism which does not seem to correspond to the large majority of Italian public opinion?". Ms Fontaine hoped Silvio Berlusconi would make "a clear statement that Italy is keeping to its European direction" and above all confirm that "Italy will not block the European arrest warrant, as Mr Berlusconi has undertaken to do". "If Italy were to block the progress of a political Europe, it would give rise to consternation. I do not wish to believe that this might be the case", she concluded.
The President of the EPP-ED Group at the European Parliament (the group which includes the elected European members of Forza Italia), Hans-Gert Pöttering, told AFP for his part that he was "convinced" that Italy would issue a "declaration to make it clear that Italy is an element of stability in European policy". "It is now the moment to speak in a positive way about single currency", said the CDU member, who stressed that the Forza Italia members are among the "most loyal" of the EPP-ED Group. In his view, Italian policy will not be dominated by Mr Martino and Mr Bossi, but by Silvio Berlusconi, "with his pro-European views".
Enrique Baron, President of the Socialist Group at the European Parliament, expressed "deep regret" at Renato Ruggiero's resignation. He also spoke of his "very great reserve about Silvio Berlusconi proclaiming himself" Foreign Minister. This represents "an accumulation of power that is most unusual in Europe", noted the Spanish Socialist.
Following Silvio Berlusconi's decision to take over the interim post at the Farnesina himself, Council President Josep Piqué had to cancel the working dinner that was to be held in Rome with his Italian counterpart on Tuesday, as Italy has called for the meeting with the new EU Council President to be postponed. Furthermore, a dinner of British, French, German and Italian Foreign Ministers scheduled for Thursday in Paris to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East had also to be cancelled following developments in Italy.
European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti, from Italy, gave a personal answer to the questions put to him by the Agency ANSA on the subject of the events during recent days. He affirmed that the resignation by Renato Ruggiero is a "serious loss for Europe, and especially for Italy", but stated he was "fully confident in Italy's European commitment, and in that of Italy's government". Now that Silvio Berlusconi has fully taken on the responsibility of European and foreign policy, "a line specific to him will become obvious", he said. If he wants Italy to be of greater importance, then "Berlusconi should also carry out the necessary debate on European policy, above all in his own majority, a debate that clarifies and without slogans that call up an unworthy image of Italy in Europe", considers Mr Monti. Following his meetings with Mr Berlusconi, Mr Monti has the impression that the line taken by the Italian Prime Minister can be summarised as follows: "more European integration based on the Community rather than the intergovernmental method, a Europe that is focused on essential competences, with all the powers necessary, but which leaves to the States and the regions all those things that can be better done in a decentralised way".