Rome, 23/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Italian government has announced that the Deputy Prime-Minister, Gianfranco Fini, has been appointed to represent Italy on the Convention on the future of Europe. Mr Fini is the President of the Alleanza Nationale party. He had a meeting last week in Rome with Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (the Convention's Chairman).
Mr Fini signals that he has told the Prime Minister, Mr Berlusconi, that he wanted to be involved in reforming the EU and had highlighted the utility of having a member of the Italian government on the Convention.
The French government will be represented by Pierre Moscovici. The former European Commission President, Luxembourger Jacques Santer, will represent his country; while Germany is expected to appoint Social Democrat academic Peter Glotz (a high-ranking member of the SPD) but the decision has yet to be finalised. Denmark has selected the former Commissioner for Monetary Affairs, Henning Christophersen, and Portugal has chosen European expert Joao de Vallera. Consumer Minister Dirk Benschop will represent the Netherlands and academic Teija Tiilikainen will represent Finland. The European Parliament 16 page delegation has already been unveiled - it will be led by Christian Democrat Elmar Brok and Social Democrat Klaus Hänsch.