Brussels, 22/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - Following the European Council on Friday 19 June, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi spoke of the Italian government's “determination” to ensure that Mario Mauro, leader of the Italian People of Freedom MEPs, is named as the EPP group candidate for the Presidency of the European Parliament. In this, Mauro faces competition from Pole Jerzy Bursek, who has the backing of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (see...