Brussels, 10/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - During a conference on 8 July, the Italian delegate to the Socialist group of the European Parliament, Pasqualina Napoletano, called upon Silvio Berlusconi to clarify certain lines of his programme “which remain ambiguous” . Ms Napoletano first of all said that she was "very pleased that last week's incident in Strasbourg is now closed”, asking that the Presidency be judged on "the substance and the facts " (see yesterday's EUROPE, p. 4). Four themes of the Italian programme warrant clarification, continued Ms Napoletano. Firstly, the growth plan. "Is it just a question of funding infrastructure? And where are these funds to be found?”, she asked (see EUROPE, p.13). There should also be lifelong learning projects, as the Presidency makes reference to the Lisbon programme; but on these subjects, there is “radio silence”, added Bruno Trentin. Why does the construction of the bridge over the Messina Strait feature on the list of priority programmes, when it is an internal project rather than a European one? he asked, adding: "There is a lot of improvisation on the funding of these projects”. Fiorella Ghilardotti found it "interesting" that Employment Minsiter Roberto Maroni had asked for pensions reform to be handled in a balanced fashion, and that the Social Affairs Council has as much to do with it as the Ecofin Council. As for justice, "Minister Roberto Castelli's addresses call measures to fight racism and xenophobia into question”, said Ms Napoletano.
Answering a question on media concentration in Italy, Ms Napoletano noted that President Berlusconi's conflicts of interest were a real problem. As for a resolution signed by 36 MEPs calling upon the Council of the EU to examine risks of violations of freedom of expression and information rights in Italy (see other article), Ms Napoletano said: "there are anomalies in our government, but 90% of these are to be resolved within Italy".