Tajani: Palestine? We are initiating the process to create a State.
Rome – “I can say it: to me this is almost amusing”. Antonio Tajani is speaking about the ruling by the European Court of Justice: it is for judges to decide on the safety of countries to which migrants are returned.
Amusing? In the centre-right coalition, he is the only one to think so…
“Well yes… how can one think that a magistrate can decide whether a country is safe? The list is prepared by many people throughout the year, assessing various parameters in cooperation with embassies and diplomats. It is not an individual decision, nor does a minister decide alone. It is the result of the work of the ministries, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of the Interior, ambassadors, and civil servants… What next – appointing a magistrate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Only in judicial dictatorships is everyone open to scrutiny except the judges – it is something worthy of the Jacobins. A judge must apply the law, not select safe destinations. This does not bring legal certainty, but rather legal uncertainty”.
If all goes well, the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum will enter into force only next June. And in the meantime?
“As the Presidency of the Council of Ministers has also stated, we intend to move forward. Moreover, there is the possibility that the Commission may decide to bring forward its entry into force…”.
President Mattarella and Prime Minister Meloni have spoken firmly on events in Gaza. Will Italy also recognise the State of Palestine?
“We have discussed this in recent days as well. Recognition is an important formal act, and we are substantively in favour. But at present there are no concrete conditions for a Palestinian State. We must build the conditions for a State that recognises Israel and is recognised by Israel. Reciprocity is not secondary. Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited. The United Nations could lead a peacekeeping mission under Arab leadership to ensure stability in the Strip; Italy would be ready to participate”.
Is there a “but” coming?
“But we cannot recognise something that, in fact, does not exist. I repeat: recognition must come at the end of a process, when all the constitutional ‘ingredients’ of a State are in place. In September, at the UN General Assembly, the matter will be discussed in depth, but in the meantime we must achieve a ceasefire and the release of the hostages”.
So, for now, will humanitarian aid continue?
“Certainly. And we are able to do so only thanks to our relationship with Israel. Let me be clear: our condemnation of what is happening is unequivocal; both Mattarella and Meloni have reaffirmed it. What the Israeli government is doing has crossed the red line. Sanctions on violent settlers must be increased. It is unacceptable to fire on a church or to attack Christian villages in the West Bank. Christians are an element of stability throughout the Middle East, resistant to Hamas. Persecuting them is not even in Israel’s interest – it only strengthens Hamas”.
President Trump has redeployed nuclear submarines. Should we be afraid?
“It is a political message to Russia, which reacts aggressively every time it is urged to seek peace. Trump has shown himself open to dialogue, but in return he has received Medvedev’s aggressive statements. The United States supports an agreement; Trump has already done more than enough to achieve peace. But certainly, they will not allow themselves to be taken for a ride by Putin”.
Tariffs are a concern, though.
“It will take time to understand everything. The framework agreement will have to be broken down product by product – painstaking work that we will have to carry out with the US and Brussels. It is true that 15% is a lot, but it is the best agreement that could have been reached. Let’s also look at tariffs elsewhere: India’s are at 25%, which also opens opportunities for us. I remain convinced that the ECB must further reduce the cost of money, undertake quantitative easing, and inject liquidity into the market. The euro–dollar exchange rate is entirely to our disadvantage, with the US currency down 13% since the start of the year”.
And how can this be addressed?
“If the euro depreciates, so much the better. Moreover, certain instruments should be updated. Through a Community decision, we could also revise the SME supporting factor contained in the Basel agreements. The limit for loans to small enterprises is currently EUR 2.5 million; I believe it could be raised to EUR 5 million. In any case, the EU internal market is our great asset. But to revive purchasing power, we must reduce the tax burden. Today I am in Reggio Calabria for Forza Italia’s three-day event, from which our proposals for the government on the South will emerge”.
Roberto Occhiuto, Forza Italia’s Governor of Calabria, has unexpectedly resigned. Do you agree with his decision?
“It was an act of courage that allows him to get the administrative machinery moving again. The timescale of justice is not that of politics: when there is an investigation, everyone stops, afraid to sign anything. As is happening in Milan: cities are paralysed, and so are regions. I am a guarantist regarding Occhiuto, Sala, and Ricci: justice must take its course, but it is inconceivable to paralyse administrations”.
When will the meeting on regional election candidates take place?
“The date has not yet been set: tomorrow we will be together in Ancona with Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini, and perhaps there we will decide when to meet. In any case, bear in mind that we do not have the problems of the left: ours is a structured political alliance, not merely an electoral one, and it has remained so since 1994. In every region we will run with a single candidate”.
