Taking distance or moving into active political life? What will be the repercussions for the EU of Mario Monti's decision to resign from the position of prime minister in his country? A distinction should be made between the immediate repercussions - starting from the European Council at the end of this week - and the longer term repercussions, which will depend on the decisions that Monti himself takes with regard to his personal political future.
Observers hold differing opinions. Some...