11 November 2003 14:41
European parliament head urges Italian premier, EU chief to end `polemics`
European Parliament Speaker Pat Cox has called on Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his potential election
rival, EU Commission head Romano Prodi, to "lay the polemics to one side" and concentrate on Europe. Cox told
Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that the latest row between the two following Russian President Vladimir
Putin's visit to Italy is threatening the success of the Intergovernmental Conference to draw up Europe's new
constitution as they need to work together on this. He also said Berlusconi should explain to European MPs why their
demands were not met to have human rights in Chechnya and Russia's environmental commitments mentioned in the final
document after this summit. The following is text of Giuseppe Sarcina interview by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera
on 10 November entitled "`Prodi and Berlusconi, stop the rowing'":
Brussels: There is a risk of damaging, if not indeed of compromising, all the work of the last few months. The
results of the Intergovernmental Conference, first of all, which is preparing the constitution for the new Europe. And
then the credibility of the foreign policy of the Union on the issue of political rights and protection of the
environment. Finally, the very fabric of institutional relations in the 'triangle' between the [European]
Commission, the [European] Parliament, and the duty presidency, which is currently held by Italy. From his home in the
countryside, Speaker of the European Parliament, Ireland's Pat Cox, broke off from his family Sunday to "issue
an appeal" to [Italian Prime Minister] Silvio Berlusconi and Romano Prodi. "Lay the polemics to one side, drop
the rows of your supporters in Italy, and concentrate, instead, on the underlying challenges which await Europe from now
until the end of the year."
The words of Cox reflect that mixture of amazement and concern with which people in Brussels view the growing
intensity of the clash between Berlusconi and Prodi. Seen from the 'capital of Europe', the adversaries of the
next general election in Italy are (and still remain) the duty president of the Union and the number one in the
Commission.
[Sarcina] The EU-Russia summit turned into a new verbal spat between Berlusconi and Prodi.
[Cox] To begin with, I would like to say, on behalf of the whole parliament, that the document with which that summit
ended was not at all to my liking. There is no reference in the text to respect for human rights and political rights in
Chechnya. And there is also no urging from the European Union to Russia for it to subscribe to the Kyoto protocol on
environmental pollution. A crucial step for making those limits on toxic emissions operational worldwide.
[Sarcina] What will this irritation of yours lead to, in political and institutional terms?
[Cox] I say again: The irritation is not mine alone. All the parliamentary groups, from the [European] People's
Party to the Greens, called on the Italian duty presidency to make provision in the conclusions of the summit for these
two issues, which we see as being fundamental: respect for civil rights in Chechnya, and a contribution by the Russian
Federation to safeguarding the environment. The parliamentary records are very clear. There cannot be any doubts or
misunderstandings. I now expect a formal reply from Berlusconi.
[Sarcina] Do you want him in parliament?
[Cox] He can choose the method: But we want to know why all reference to Chechnya and to the Kyoto protocol
disappeared in the document. A clarification is indispensable.
[Sarcina] Prodi claims to have raised the problems during the summit. Palazzo Chigi [Italian Prime Minister's
Office] denies this, and Forza Italia is demanding the resignation of the chairman of the Commission. If this is not an
institutional crisis, it is not far from being one.
[Cox] The situation is worrying. But I do not want to comment on the affairs of Italian domestic politics, nor can I
do so.
[Sarcina] Domestic up to a point: The row directly affects the relationship between the duty president of the Union
and the chairman of the European Commission.
[Cox] The only thing I can say to Prodi and to Berlusconi is to leave to one side the polemics that are fuelled by
their respective supporters in Italy, and to concentrate instead on the major challenges which lie before us.
[Sarcina] Do you mean that there is a risk of compromising the work of the Intergovernmental Conference?
[Cox] All of us, and when I say 'all' I mean parliament, the governments, the duty president, and the
commission, have committed ourselves to working together to reach a fundamental goal, the goal of the new Constitution
for Europe. It is clear that in this phase the role of Berlusconi, who is responsible for running the Intergovernmental
Conference, is very delicate. Prodi's function is also important for the success of the conference. So I expect
everyone to now focus their efforts on this.
[Sarcina] Is it conceivable that ultimately the confrontation between Prodi and Berlusconi may turn into an
unprecedented institutional clash?
[Cox] It is not conceivable, and I do not even want to think about it.
[Corriere della Sera] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
