Antonio Tajani has just closed the annual Conference of Italian Ambassadors held in Rome. He read the final speech that Giorgia Meloni, unable to attend due to the flu, was supposed to give. The speech was an assessment of the first year of the centre-right Italian government’s foreign policy.
At Atreju, Meloni made an entirely political speech. It almost seemed like the opening of the election campaign for the European elections. Isn’t it a bit early and doesn’t it risk prejudicing the Italian government’s action over the coming months?
«Absolutely not, the election campaign does not affect anything, the Italian government action goes on. We are very cohesive in spite of the background, we have been together for 30 years and since ’94 we stand together in elections».
As to the financial manoeuvre: Forza Italia insists on an extension of the Superbonus. Don’t you think the measure has already created enough problems for the budget?
«I believe that a two- or three-month extension can be included in the Milleproroghe. There are also good people who have benefited from the measure, and for those who have exceeded 70 per cent of the work an extension is not an amnesty, it is a fair measure».
What do you think of the constitutional reform? Could a different slant have been chosen, e.g. the German model?
«I believe it is a good reform. We come together to govern, and together we fall, if there is no longer a majority. Everything is perfectible in Parliament, this government was voted in to make a stability proposal».
The President of the Senate said that this reform brings the powers of the first office of the State back to their natural home.
«The only thing that needs clarifying is that the powers of the Head of State are in no way affected, as the reform leaves him as arbiter and guarantor of the Constitution and national unity. It must be added that a reform that increases the stability of governments cannot but please the head of our institutions».
What do you think about the fact that justice reform is at a standstill?
«We have five years, and even Meloni has said it will be done. Forza Italia considers a comprehensive reform of justice to be a ‘strategic reform’. I am not just talking about the issue of the separation of careers. A resounding issue is that of civil justice: there is a backlog of 3 million civil cases, when international companies consider whether to invest in Italy this is one of the first obstacles, in addition to the weight of bureaucracy. The reform is strategic and we will have to get it moving».
Mattarella said that Europe will increasingly need majority decisions in the future. Which of the EU reforms is the most necessary?
«The completion of the banking union and tax harmonisation. We are in favour of this by a majority, Berlusconi also said so in his last speech, but it will not be easy because the Treaties have to be changed».
As to the Mattei Plan: you called it more a method than a real plan. Could it be that Italy has a deficit of financial resources to launch a plan that is truly international in scope?
«It is certainly a complex plan, for which we will also need the resources of other actors, starting with those of the European Union. In the end, though, it will be a mosaic of interventions that will involve many actors in Italy, from ENI to CDP, together with the EU and other Italian governments; the conference on Africa that will be held in January will also serve to have the contributions of the African states and to write a piece of the Plan together with them».
On the Gaza crisis, we have always sided with Israel’s right to defend itself. At the same time, we have called for humanitarian measures for the Palestinian people. Do you think Israel has gone beyond the mere right to defend itself?
«Hamas is primarily responsible for the crisis, but there are too many victims among Palestinian civilians, Israel’s response must be proportionate. I welcome the words of the President of Israel, who is ready to support a halt to the fighting to protect the civilian population and facilitate the release of hostages».
What do you think of the rumours circulating about Mario Draghi in Europe?
«Unwise indiscretions. The president of the Commission must be a commissioner, and each EU member state will designate its own. The assessment is different for the President of the European Council, the designation will be made by the governments. It is early days though, messing around with Draghi in the newspapers only damages our own credibility, a man like Draghi can do anything».
