The situation in Ukraine and Crimea will be one of the top issues on the agenda for the European summit on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 March. In his briefing to Parliament in the run-up to the European Council in Brussels, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi confirmed that “the crisis we are witnessing in Ukraine will undoubtedly be a key issue for discussion”. He illustrated the line taken by Italy so far: “I can only repeat the words of Minister Mogherini, both in the Chamber and in the parliamentary Committees. We, and the international community, feel that the referendum in Crimea was not legitimate and that concrete action to seek a rapid solution is required of all the institutions and, most notably, the European G8 countries. A solution that clearly cannot ignore the role of Russia. We will stand together with our allies”.
Political-diplomatic solution and role of OSCE
“The ‘guiding star’ for the Italian government”, added Renzi, “is to collaborate will the institutions at all levels to find a solution to the crisis that is political, that respects international law and that does not take us back to an iron curtain scenario. A scenario that probably only exists in the nightmares of some of the key actors in this situation, but which we must avoid”. The Prime Minister also confirmed “the Italian government’s intention to build on the role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) role as the forum, platform and space for discussion with the parties concerned”.
