Mr Hollande pointed out the Garibaldi itself was an expression of the best European values since the vessel plays a fundamental role in the EU’s Operation Sophia, which aims to neutralise smuggling routes which have seen more than 100,000 migrants land on the shores of Italy this year alone.
Advertisement
Renzi has called Ventotene the “cradle of Europe” and is keen to highlight its historic role in the founding of the European Union as Italy seeks even greater integration, particularly on the security front to help it cope with migrants, and flexibility from Brussels as it tries to rein in its record public debt.
Renzi’s proposals were stillborn, however. Ms Merkel announced an informal meeting of Europe’s 27 remaining member nations was planned to take place in Bratislava next month. Italian officials have stepped up calls to do more to boost economic growth, anticipating resistance from Germany.
The talks in Italy were the first in a series of meetings Ms. Merkel has scheduled this week with more than a dozen European Union leaders to prepare for September’s gathering.
According to recent Eurostat figures, growth was flat in Italy in the second quarter, compared with 0.4 percent growth in the EU.
New EU rules require depositors and creditors to contribute to paying the costs of a bank failure.
Italy is back in the EU’s top trio after the three-way summit with Germany and France off the island of Ventotene Monday, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Tuesday. Regarding the refugee crisis affecting Europe, specially Italy, Renzi noted that in 2016 almost 102.000 people reached Italian shores, a similar figure to the one recorded during the same period of time in 2015, so migration is still a serious problem. Renzi’s popularity has been undermined by his austerity measures, and he also faces a political challenge from the anti-euro and anti-EU Five-Star Movement (M5S), which has called for a referendum on exit from the euro.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi emphasized his optimism for the future of the EU. Hollande, Merkel and Renzi tried to address Europe’s response to the migrant crisis and issues of security on the continent.
“Everything they said about the economy, shared security and migrants was nothing but good intentions, especially in view of the dramatic drop in public spending on defense, scientific research and culture, now happening in Italy”, Graziani said.
Dr Merkel said it had been important to appreciate “something of the EU’s roots” by visiting Spinelli’s grave.
Following the talks, they boarded an Italian aircraft carrier off Ventotene, where they held a joint press conference.
“We want there to be even more coordination, even though important steps have been taken, in the fight against terrorism”, said Hollande, whose country has faced a series of terror attacks since a year ago.
“I am doing everything in my power to support him with this”, she said.
Matteo Renzi (R) met with Francois Holland and Angela Merkel in Italy on Monday.
Advertisement
Imprisoned on the island by the fascist government during World War II, Spinelli and fellow captive Ernesto Rossi co-wrote the “Ventotene manifesto” calling for a federation of European states. “Relaunching Europe is a totally open game but it needs to be played”.
