Italian Council presidency: MEPs share their views on the priorities

Italy took over the EU Council presidency from Greece on 1 July. During the Parliament's first plenary session since the European elections, Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi told MEPs it was necessary for Europe to act with conviction and determination. We asked the leading Italian MEPs in Parliament's political groups for their views and expectations for the next six months.

Lorenzo Cesa (head of the NCD-UDC-SVP delegation in the EPP)

We come from a deep crisis that in some European countries is becoming dramatic. The beginning of this legislature and the Italian presidency represent an important moment for the re-launch of new European politics. The main challenges we face are the recovery from the crisis, employment, fundamental rights and support for European citizens to keep pace with a rapidly changing world.

Elisabetta Gardini (head of the Forza Italia delegation in the EPP)

The Italian presidency should be an opportunity for a fresh start. The Italian presidency must commit to improving the real economy, such as for example by helping European small and medium-sized companies and responding to European citizens, who are asking for a real visible change of pace on employment - starting with young people. Also issues such as immigration need change at the European level.

Gianni Pittella (S&D)

Our group fully supports Italian prime minister Renzi’s call for a new start for Europe, based on passion and vision, but also on ambitious action. We must be courageous and we need a real political leadership to rebuild Europe, so future generations can lead better lives.Europe must have the courage to reinvent itself in the light of the crisis. We must give people, and especially young people, a dream and the belief that their future will be a better one. The basis for our actions must be solidarity.

Eleonora Forenza (GUE)

Our proposals are clear: a European plan for employment and the minimum wage, as the only solution to get out of the crisis, and a questioning of the stability pact, starting with the fiscal compact. Unfortunately, we expect that the Italian presidency will only continue with austerity policies, as confirmed by the results of the last Council. The same policies of Matteo Renzi, as evidenced by the Jobs Act, will make work instability in Italy even worse.

Ignazio Corrao (EFDD)

I would say that the only expectation we may have is to drop austerity right away and work on employment programmes that can restart a future, especially in southern europe. This presidency risks being one of a lot of promises and zero facts, as it's very close to the system that makes the people of Europe poor and angry. I have no high expectations for this semester. It will serve Europe's financial elites and never citizens, and be far from the real economy and close to the big powers. It will cause only further problems to employment, proper salaries and more in general the dignity of human beings.

REF. : 20140718STO53030

Updated: ( 23-07-2014 - 10:35)