Don’t BLAME the UK! Brussels has NO EXCUSE not to deliver on promises, says ex-Italian PM
BRUSSELS eurocrats will no longer be able to blame their failings on British stubbornness, a former Italian prime minister said.
Former Italian PM blames Renzi for instability in Italy
Enrico Letta, who held office from 2013 to 2014, insisted European Union leaders can no longer use the UK has an “alibi” for inaction by opposing major initiatives.
With Theresa May about to open formal EU departure talks, the Italian demanded Brussels leaders make a success of its members economy through “goodwill”.
Speaking to CNBC, Mr Letta discussed the need for “unity” across the bloc, urging other countries to not follow Britain out of the failing European project.
“I think we have to push for more unity, for less fragmentation,” he said.
I think we have to be a little worried about the political situation
“This is why I think we have to be a little worried about the political situation, I hope for a more wise approach, unity, will take place, if not I start to think the country can be the next instigator of big instability.”
In December, an ally to former prime minister Matteo Renzi claimed Brexit was the start of a disintegration of the EU.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Sandro Gozi said: “I think that the beginning of European disintegration has started with Brexit.
“It is up to the other 27 government to re-launch Europe. That was our policy, that was our goal as the Renzi government.
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“It is clear that now Europe loses a major political actor to its relaunch.”
Mr Renzi has since resigned as prime minister, having lost a crucial referendum on constitutional reform.
Mr Letta cited this as a reason behind Italy’s instability as a nation, with EU bosses demanding the country tackle its mounting debt crisis or face tight financial sanctions.
“First of all, on the political instability, there is this new electoral law, proportional law, after the failure of all of the reforms that Renzi proposed.
“The collapse of the financial zone now, the result of all of this period is a pure proportional law that will bring more fragmentation and a very complicated situation.”
Under EU rules Italy is supposed to reduce its debt by about 3.6 per cent of GDP annually.
Publishing a report on Italy debt, the European Commission said that the country needs to “credibly” enact additional measures to halt the potential crisis.
Italy’s eye-watering public debt is set to rise to an all-time high of 133.3 per cent of GDP this year from 132.8 per cent in 2016.
Alarmed by the growing weight of money owed on the economy, the Commission has ordered the government to put in measures worth at least 0.2 per cent of its gap – or risk penalties.
