Rome, 26 June 2024 – Giorgia Meloni challenges Europe. The Prime Minister doesn’t mince words attack the EU and the way in which the new leadership of the community institutions is being decided. This is what the Prime Minister said in her communications to the Chamber in view of the European Council: “Some have argued that we shouldn’t talk to certain political forces. The EU institutions were designed in a neutral logic. The top positions were entrusted taking into account the major groups, regardless of the logic of majority and opposition. Today we choose to open a new scenario and the logic of consensus is overridden by that of fireplaces, where one party decides for all. A ‘conventio ad excludendum’ that on behalf of the Italian government I have contested and do not intend to share”. In Europe “Italy cannot be ignored”, the President of the Republic also said Sergio Mattarella effectively giving an assist to Meloni during breakfast this morning at the Quirinale. So onto the appointments “the consensus of Meloni, Orban and Fico is still missing”, a senior European diplomat said. But hope is the last to die. “We hope to be able to bring Meloni on board too”added the diplomat, indicating that in recent days there have been “many contacts” between the leaders of the Twenty-Seven to reach the agreement, defined as “very balanced”.
Summary
Giorgia Meloni in the Senate (Ansa)
Learn more:
The EU nominations, Von der Leyen for an encore. He will negotiate with Meloni: Fitto remains in pole position
According to Meloni “there is an indisputable fact that comes from the polls and it is the rejection of policies carried out by the governing forces in several large European nations, which are also in many cases the forces that have shaped the European policies of recent years”. The Prime Minister cites the percentages obtained in individual EU countries by the governing parties: “16% in France, 32% in Germany, 34% in Spain. In Italy alone, 53% of those elected represent the government forces.”
Here’s who will fill the top roles in Europe after the elections
The leader of the Brothers of Italy continues: “I am not surprised that a certain approach emerged before, during and after the electoral campaign, but no authentic democrat who believes in popular sovereignty can in his heart consider it acceptable that in Europe an attempt was made to negotiate on top management positions even before we went to the polls. Then we wonder why citizens don’t consider it important to go and vote.”
And precisely on the topic ofabstentionismMeloni adds: “The level of attention and satisfaction among European citizens for community institutions is increasingly lower. Approval is now around 45%, a significantly lower figure than what was recorded a few decades ago, while disaffection has also materialized with constantly growing abstentionism. We saw it in Italy, where 48.3% of those entitled to vote went to vote, with a decrease of more than 6 points compared to the European elections five years ago, the lowest figure ever and with participation slipping below 50% for the first time. But it is a phenomenon that has crossed many nations throughout the continent and that cannot leave us indifferent”.
The composition of the new European Parliament
In short, “the EU has transformed itself into a bureaucratic and ideological giant – the words of the Prime Minister in the Chamber –. Europe continued to look predominantly internally as if nothing was happening outside. While the economy was losing strength, that of the USA remained stable and that of China grew exponentially. The scenario changed but the EU did not change its strategy. The perception is of a union that is too invasive which claims to dictate to citizens what to eat, what car to drive, what house to live in and what land to cultivate. At the same time it remains weaker in its ability to impact global scenarios.”
At the end of the speech, the theme of migration flows: “On the management of the migrant dossier, previously there was only talk of ‘redistribution’, while now the paradigm has changed but it is essential that this approach is consolidated and becomes structural: the same letter that the President of the Commission von der Leyen addressed to the Heads of State and Government go in this direction, establishing that this approach must remain at the center of the priorities of the next institutional cycle”.
The Northern League deputy prime minister also intervenes on the EU appointments Matteo Salvini: “It’s shameful the arrogance of European bureaucrats that in these hours the seats are being divided up despite the popular vote having rejected the policies of this commission. The mess between popular and socialists it can’t be the future, it is an insult to Italy, to the French who will vote soon and to the Europeans who have asked for change. The League, despite these seat dividers, is working for a possible and necessary alternative that puts it back at the center work, safety and familiesnot the seats that von der Leyen and co are dividing up.”
