ZCZC
BCN-23
EU-ITALY-POLITICS-GOVERNMENT-ECONOMY
Italy needs to work harder, be less corrupt: Juncker
BRUSSELS, June 1, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – European Commission President Jean-
Claude Juncker has said Italians need to work harder, be less corrupt and
stop blaming the EU for the problems of the country’s poor south.
The controversial comments were immediately followed by a demand by
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, an Italian, for a denial from
Juncker, warning on Twitter that his words would be “unacceptable” if true.
Tajani did not specify which comments he was referring to but Juncker said
only a few sentences about Italy on Thursday during a question-and-answer
session at a conference on the future of Europe in Brussels.
Asked what Europe could do to help young people in regions like the south
of Italy, Juncker said he was “in deep love” with the country but added: “I
no longer accept that everything which is going wrong in South of Italy… is
explained by the fact that the EU or the European Commission would not do
enough.”
“Italians have to take care of the poor regions of Italy. That means more
work, less corruption, seriousness,” he said.
He urged Italy not to “play this game” of holding the EU responsible,
adding: “Nations first, Europe second.”
Far-right leader Matteo Salvini, whose League party on Thursday formed a
populist coalition with the Five Star Movement after months of political
uncertainty, condemned the comments, labelling them “shameful and racist”,
according to Italian media.
A European commission spokeswoman told AFP that “the words attributed to
President Juncker on Italy have been taken out of context”.
“The absorption of EU funds could be improved (in southern Italy) so that
people can feel the results faster on the ground,” she said, adding that “the
EU will continue to engage with Italy to ensure that help arrives where it is
needed most.”
BSS/AFP/HR/1110