Brussels, 07/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - German social Democrat, Martin Schultz, new Vice President of the Socialist group at the European Parliament, stated to a press gathering that the European Parliament must tackle the issue of Italy's European position, one of the founding counties and where the coalition led by Silvio Berlusconi contains some brutally "anti-European elements" (Bossi is worst than Fini he claims) and who are holding up the EU in legal matters. Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the PPE-DE group (including MEPs from Forza Italia) had until now ruled out any discussion on the subject at the European Parliament. Mr Schulz thinks that this will now be difficult to continue, as the price to pay for leading the EP largest political group could prove very costly.
Mr Shulz considers that Chancellor Schröder's critical remarks of the European Commission (see yesterday's Europe page 7) were absolutely not anti-European but were part of the normal debate. The Prodi Commission could, if it wishes, seek an open discussion within the Convention on the Future of Europe, with Member States that question the Commission's role.