Italy : to exit The Option, the Euro-Zone, remains on the table

Mr Gozi, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey, only 35 percent of Italians have a positive image of the EU. How is this explained?

The Italians are no EU-sceptics. But they are disappointed by the EU. There are two reasons for this. First, the necessary reforms in the reign of Mario Monti, have led to the beginning of this decade of social turmoil, for which the EU is a scapegoat was made. Then the refugee crisis in the EU have established partners in Italy for a long time in the stitch began. Now the Anti-EU Propaganda of the current government.

coalition of the Lega under Matteo Salvini and the Five star movement, The populist-since last June in the office. It is the success of this coalition, to produce in Italy, re-growth and thus a positive view on the EU?

Italy has a great economic potential. But the budget that the government has decided, will worsen the situation. There are in the Northern League and the Five star movement is not a serious attempt to generate more investment. The citizens ' income, which have introduced the two parties, also provides no answer to the crucial question: How to integrate people, were long cut off from the labour market, again? My fears after the change of government last summer have been confirmed: Italy is now slipped into recession.

How do you explain the loss of power of their social-democratic party in the Italian parliamentary elections last year?

it depends on The one with the implementation of a national Plan for dealing with the Migration. The Plan was the right one, because he gave Italy the control of the Migration without closure of the ports, such as Salvini is doing this. But it was only implemented in 2017, and it was too late. It would have been better if he had already entered into force in 2014. Also, the anti-poverty measures we have taken with the help of the EU, came too late. What is crucial is the fact that the Partito Democratico was busy in the last years permanent with yourself. Constantly gave it to ricochet within the party. The people have asked the question: Why should we choose such a divided party?

What is the European policy Plan of the Lega-Chairman Salvini followed? The way it works in the long term, a "Italexit", i.e. on an exit of Italy from the Euro-Zone?

Before the election last year, the Northern League and the Five star movement have said clearly that Italy should leave the Euro. Today, their official Position is that Italy should remain in the EU and the Euro-Zone. But both parties do not act accordingly. I think that their strategy is now on the European institutions from the inside to undermine it. Also the Option to leave the Euro-Zone, remains on the table. The increasing influence of the Neo-nationalists in Italy, with the result that there is before the next European election is a clear Alternative that is new in this Form. Italy has, for the first time since the first election to the European Parliament in 1979, the choice between Neo-nationalism and a pro-European federalism.

Salvini addiction before the European elections, the Alliance with extreme Right-wing and right-wing populists such as Marine Le Pen and Viktor Orban. How dangerous could such an Alliance for the EU?

This depends on the action of the pro-European forces in the EU Parliament after the election. Because of the best allies of the Salvini and co. the European Status quo. If the EU is not renewed, the populists stronger.

change What?

The main pro-European groups in Europe get to Parliament in the next Strasbourg legislature, a cross-party consensus on the main challenges for the community. The enforcement of the rule of law everywhere in the EU, the establishment of a common defence policy, effective Reform of the Euro-Zone, the fight against climate change and a European migration policy, which is jointly organised with the African countries of origin.

The conversation Albrecht Meier.

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Sandro Gozi (50) is the President of the Union of European Federalists, the advocates of a Federal European state. Until June 2018, he was Secretary of state for European Affairs in the Italian government.