Raffaele Fitto: "New joint EU debt would be desirable, but it cannot be implemented at present"

"The European Commission has agreed to the request for flexibility on the energy front. And I think this has been a very positive sign of cooperation and realism. The energy issue is of paramount importance. Now, however, Italy has asked for further consideration regarding inflation as well, and I cannot comment on that at present; the Commission is currently assessing the request. There are two factors to bear in mind: the legitimate request on a genuine issue, but also a focus on the impact on the markets and the stability of public finances at a time like this.” This was stated by Raffaele Fitto, European Commissioner for Regional Policy and Cohesion, at Il Foglio’s ‘Festival of Optimism’. Interviewed by Luciano Capone, the EU official spoke about the key issues affecting our country and the European Union.

As we approach the election campaign, is there a risk that the accounts might not be kept in order? “The issue of election campaigns is one that exists in every country and is an inherent complexity of the democratic system. But if we look more closely, it is the complexities of our democracies that are the main issue, rather than anything else. The most problematic situations from a financial point of view have always been driven by a lack of stability: today, Italy has a stable government that is about to complete its term in office. Where there is uncertainty, however, it is obvious that the consequences are precisely those we are discussing.”

“In my personal view, it would be desirable in certain well-defined sectors – I am thinking of the energy sector, where we need to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy – to devise common debt instruments such as the Next Generation EU and the NRRP,” Fitto added. In response to a question about the European right (and Vannacci in particular), he replied: “In my current role, I cannot comment or get involved in national politics.” He added: “I have personally visited all the border regions; I have seen the situation first-hand and spoken to people, local authorities and government representatives: I think I can say that on the issue of Ukraine and the defence of Europe’s borders, we need a clear and unambiguous stance. I never felt the need to visit the Finnish or Estonian borders; I visited the European border, and I hope this can become a shared asset within the European perspective that we need.”