We now live in an age of competing “visions” for Europe. Here on Debating Europe, we often ask Prime Ministers, MEPs and others (including the President of the European Council, Mr Herman Van Rompuy) to spell out their “long-term vision” of what the European Union should look like over the coming decades. There is a general agreement that the status quo is flawed, but the consensus ends there.
Today, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will begin the push for his own vision of Europe. Over the next six months, Italy will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Mr Renzi hopes to use this role to set the agenda and provide a platform to kick-start fundamental reform of the European Union.
Renzi has compared the current European Union to a “old boring aunt”. He accuses the Commission of lecturing Member States from afar and says the EU is “submerged by numbers and without soul”. Despite supporting Jean-Claude Juncker for the position of EU Commission President, Renzi has argued that anybody who thinks the “spitzenkandidaten” process will solve the EU’s democratic deficit is “living on Mars”.
Instead, Mr Renzi says he dreams of a federal Europe. He has repeatedly said that he “dreams, thinks and works for the United States of Europe,” urging leaders to speak “not in the cold language of technocracy” but to make the case that a “stronger and more cohesive Europe is the only solution to solve the problems of our time”.
Unlike many of his counterparts, the Italian Prime Minister is riding on a wave of popular support after his party won the most votes in the European Parliament elections back in May. He hopes this momentum will carry forward during Italy’s Presidency of the Council, allowing him to push for reforms to the EU’s “fiscal compact” governing accepted public debt and deficit levels. Mr Renzi, who hopes to gain the support of embattled French President François Hollande, would like to see greater flexibility in the rules, setting the stage for a relaxing of austerity and an increase in public investment.
However, Renzi’s vision will have to compete with some very different ideas for the future of Europe. British Prime Minister David Cameron has made no secret of the fact that he would like to see powers greatly devolved from Brussels and handed back to national governments. Furthermore, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is unlikely to be pleased with the suggestion that EU fiscal rules are relaxed (especially when Italy has a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 136% – the second-highest in the eurozone after Greece).
Do you agree with Prime Minister Renzi that Europeans “demand change”? If so, what direction should this change take? Is he right to push for a relaxing of EU fiscal rules and a future “United States of Europe”? And will he succeed? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policy-makers and experts for their reactions.
41 comments Post a commentcomment
The only viable solution for the future of Europe is Renzi’s dream, namely United States of Europe. It is the only way we can secure our way of life, our values and their promotions and in the end the position of Europe in the world stage. The stake here is pretty simple: We either push forward for a federal Europe or we blame everything on the EU institutions, crawl back to nationalism and become pariahs of the contemporary international scene.
Go Matteo Renzi!!
You’re right! European Federation now!
WHO RENZI, il Bamboccione, YOU must be joking , he is Merkle puddle. Renzi is like Blair all talks and NOTHING else. Remember HE has NOT been elected, HE has been imposed on the Italians.
Berlusconi was remove at the request of Merkel and Sarkozy (documented) and Monti was put in its place at their request G20 in Cannes 2011. Monti promptly signed up to system to save the Germans banks. And he also imposed on us the famous fiscal compact (bad English as well). We had elections, and Bersani won (sort of) he could not for a government after two months so we were imposed Letta , who put up Italy for sale. After about 10 months the PD had an elections and Renzi won, so he became PM (the Italian did not elect him). As you can see we have an imposed democracy.
And Renzi is no more than a puppet of the EU, he does what he is told, talk a lot and does little. Even Versace told him to stop wearing the same white shirt. That is how boring the guy is. Cannot even string a decent speech. BUT he is also under investigation for ?. Well shall we say movements of cash?
Renzi is a waste of time and money, when at the EU election the PD got 40% of the votes is because the Italian are so stupid is not even funny any more.
But when voting Italians keep burning themselves , obviously as they get older they either become more stupid or oblivious to pain. But I hear you say ?my father, his father and grandfather voted for this party? then they are more stupid than I thought, evolution has not reached, so if your father and his father before jumped off a cliff, you will do the same?. Wow that is progress!!!
In the last 60-70 years history shows that Italy has had successive governments who are equally incompetent and equally corrupt, and who voted them in? You, but what is more stupid you keep voting them! You are also blind!? you are in denial!
The governments reflect the people and its country. Corruption, incompetence and ineptitude, evolution is a wonderful thing, the strongest go forward whilst the weaker one do not progress, Italy!!!
BY THE WAY LOOK at the photo… woudl you trust that…look like a croos between Dell Boy and Arthus Dayley …. a sort of second hand car sales man
Loris Gatti in pratica chi non vota quel voti tu stupido, ho capito male?
There is a very unfortunate way of thinking among many pro-Europeans that anyone who dares to question the forward progress of the EU is some kind of euro-sceptic Bigot who is standing on the wrong side of history. This idea has stiffed debate over the future of the union. I am extremely pro-European and support the idea of an integrated Europe. However I question whether the union has moved too far, too quickly. The evidence of this can be seen in the emergence of an extremely anti-EU element across Europe during the last elections. The smart thing for the EU to do would be to question why anti-EU parties are on the rise and then act to counter that rise. Instead the union is ploughing ahead towards federalism at the cost of losing popular public support.
Martin
it is not to be anti_UE or PRO-EU. People are really dying. Every day commit suicide HUMAN BEINGS. Renzi Renzi or not I do not know ‘what potra’ change this nefarious policy of the European Union. Unless we change direction or OUT !
That’s what I’m saying Stefania, there is a middle ground between pro and Abu european union. It is possible for an individual to be pro-EU and still argue for change in direction for the union. Unfortunately anyone who suggests such a change is branded a sceptic
Anti not Abu!
there is one thing people in europe do not want to understand, the european burocrats are only interested in the banks and finance, they are not interested in people. the union has done everything wrong from the beginning, they tried to built the united states of europe starting with the euro instead of starting with the fiscal and the employment union, for example, is like if i build a home starting from the roof instead of the foundation, everything willa collapse, like it is right now with the eu.
STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION …. We lose our European culture and becomes a caliphate
This Italian wants the woman below to join him in the ugly British Ashton woman’s place, and guess what, she is an American patsy, paid for by them. Which means he also must be in the seat with these Duke Wayne’s we can’t get shot of. She isn’t repulsive in appearance like Catherine Ashton but she is well in on her little journey of being bent EU personnel. Take special note of paragraph 5.
http://www.esteri.it/mae/en/ministero/ministro/
Juncker is stitching us up the way he is being paid to do.
People want scapegoats for their problems and not change. Radical change political means radical action but I guess that would mean leaving your selfies for a while and using up all your vacation time, now would it?
If Europe won’t change, it is condemned. You can see the reason exactly above! Even educated people, consider that the solution of their problems is the vanishing of migrants! We are exactly in the same situation as the interwar crisis. Back then were the “Jews”, now the migrants. I’m sure if there wasn’t any migrants, then it would be Jews’ fault once again! STOP AUSTERITY! BRING BACK DEMOCRACY, SOLIDARITY AND PARITY. WORK FOR PEOPLE INSTEAD FOR BANKS AND LOBBYISTS!
Matteo Renzi is the new face of politics…. finally!!!!!!
and Thank you Loris Gatti for your very constructive approach… This is not what we need now, you are talking talking talking and you are acting exactly as those who you criticize! please, MOVE ON!
Pls. NO lobby in Brussel ..!!! They kill democracy…
I think Renzi can!!!!!
Au Europe of knowledge and culture based. Those are the competitive advantages of Europe against America and Asia.
Great intervenience of civil society networks representatives (they are also elected) and giving them leadership of change.
A Parliament for and by the people working together with civil society organizations and not only with parties. (this are no longer representing the people not even the voters).
EU funds leaded and controlled by civil society representatives. EU conferences, seminars, prizes shared indeed and in fact with civil society networks.
Ahahahahah
amen
Well, he wants an unexperienced, uninfluential, unauthoritative party official such as Italian FM Mogherini to be appointed as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, so… no, Matteo Renzi is not giving Europe back its soul
Dear Mr. Renzi. If you want the economy to expand, and see a positive growth out look,you have to lower tax & vat to 10%. All of you fail to understand that what you are looking at is the demolition of the European model. You think that “Greeks” are like this, and Italians are like that, and the Maltese the same, namely untamable people, by birth perhaps. All, they don’t like the Tax man.
Mr Renzi, If you want the economy to expand and see a positive growth outlook you have to lower tax & vat to 10%.
La Giustizia Italiana. Un tempo i libri che parlavano di Diritto Civile e pure Penale erano piccini, avevano poche pagine perch v’erano poche leggi giuste ed efficaci. Un tempo i processi in Tribunale erano rapidi e v’era categoricamente la certezza della pena. Un tempo ci chiamavano Fascisti… oggi i libri di diritto civile e penale sono grossi e pesanti, pieni di legge-cavilli, sentenze da interpretare, pieni di parole, grondanti di fiumi d’inchiostro che i burocrati della Legge hanno voluto tramandarci negli anni. Oggi non v’ la certezza della pena, i processi in Tribunale hanno tempi biblici e le sentenze sono scritte in una lingua rompicapo: i criminali, i trasgressori della Legge, la fanno franca grazie a questi tempi lunghi, in cui gli avvocati difensori salvano i loro assistiti con la formula della Prescrizione, con la formula del non luogo a procedere. I criminali, i trasgressori della Legge, colti sul fatto dagli organi di Polizia, dopo alcune settimane di becera notoriet sui quotidiani e Tg nazionali e non, la spuntano, riescono a far accomodare tutto nei migliori dei modi, elargendo denaro e favori ad avvocati, giudici, finanzieri e poliziotti… gi, elargendo, i criminali se ne escono dai guai, ma solo quei criminali che possono elargire, quei criminali che hanno accumulato nel tempo risorse e potere; tutti gli altri marciranno in gattabuia. Solo per i criminali poveri, per i comuni delinquenti, v’ la certezza della pena; per i pesci grossi v’ la presunzione d’innocenza fino al terzo grado di giudizio, per arrivare al quale ci vogliono decenni di indagini e processi, che immancabilmente terminano con la Prescrizione: cos i pesci grossi ritornano di nuovo nel mare del malaffare e delinquono indisturbati come prima e pi di prima.
Chi controlla i controllori e garantisce la trasparenza della Legge?
Nella zona dove vivo io spesso la delinquenza organizzata usa
la Polizia di Stato e organi ad essa connessa (persino le strutture
ospedaliere) per spiare e controllare l’attivit e i movimenti di
quelli pi deboli che non appartengono ad alcun gruppo: questo
tipo di comportamento ha origini lontane che vanno ricercate
nell’epoca della venuta di Garibaldi e dei suoi pretesi liberali in
Campania. Generalmente questi individui praticano contro il
malcapitato di turno violenza psicologica, ingiuria, calunnia,
diffamazione, falsa testimonianza, dichiarazione mendace a
pubblico ufficiale compiacente, furto di beni e persino di
immobili, appropriazione indebita di qualsiasi oggetto, minacce
verbali e a mano armata, percosse e bastonate, violazione della
privacy, violazione del domicilio, spionaggio industriale per
arrecare vantaggio ad aziende loro amiche, produzione di falsi
documenti di valore legale, produzione di banconote false,
spaccio di stupefacenti, sequestri di persona e di vetture,
prostituzione e clandestinit in immobili di dubbia loro
propriet, intossicazione e avvelenamento, tentati omicidi ed
omicidi se non proprio stragi. Usano tutti i loro metodi
polizieschi per incastrare l’innocente scomodo!!!
http://buongoverno.altervista.org/ministero-della-giustizia/
Il sito di Gargione http://buongoverno.altervista.org/
Il mio unico romanzo http://enzobenincasa.homestead.com/romanzi.html
Le mie riflessioni http://enzobenincasa.homestead.com/meditazionisociali.pdf
Sign in… in english http://www.facebook.com/groups/governmentsbg/
Iscrivetevi e iscrivete i vostri amici al gruppo http://www.facebook.com/groups/buongoverno/
Iscrivetevi e iscrivete i vostri amici al gruppo http://www.facebook.com/groups/presidenzialismo/
At the moment the only thing he did is to put tax … tax and other tax …. thank’s very much Mr Renzi the way u are taxing Italian is the best …. Miss Merkell and Euroburocracy thank’s a lot
What an amusing question.
Its July 1st NOT April 1st!
is a young leader… Out of the jurassic age … Why do not give him a chance? We did trust mad and unfit leadership for the past 20 years in Italy… Eu is the future… No back ways for europeen citiziens !
Dear Alessandra,
certainly because of my age I became a little cynical, that is why I can’t share your indulgent view! I’m afraid that if it is true, that “il buongiorno si vede dal mattino”, then mr. Renzi introduced himself from the very beginning in the worst possible ways: “We shall never govern the Country without elections!” oh really? And who voted him?; He also nicely stabbed in the back his party fellow Letta soon after reassuring him with the now (in)famous phrase “Enrico stai sereno!” perhaps he meant it sarcastically! What else? The bait of 80 Euro to attract votes? The alliance with the former prime minister S.B.? His manoeuvring to secure more power in his hands by crippling the senate, the constitution, the referendum quorum? Forgive me but if this is the good morning I can’t help being nothing but very worried about what is coming next! I’m afraid that he doesn’t to be given chances by anybody, he is taking them by himself!
EU should stop redistributing wealth and adding inequality through low taxation , VATT and subsidizing particularly to the large transnationals, it should impose strict environmental and consumer protection laws, it should uphold on strict business laws, and it should stop serving the trickle-down ideology of austerity measures: economic system proved wrong by the prolonged recession, high unemployment, and deepening poverty in the EU!
How? But he’s probably only a step , which lasts 6 -12 months to the next italian government , and everybody will forget him in one month.
Yes, start being honest with the people!
Yes, start being honest with the people!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17giVtwABvg
What is this Nicola Sarcozy thing?!? Who is afraid of his political come back???
If Europe, according to Renzi, is “submerged by numbers and without soul” I think the right question would be: What does he mean by ‘soul’? The article touches on economical and political arguments but ‘soul searching’ goes beyond. It’s a philosophical statement that asks for a deeper-than-economical approach. Renzi is echoing the voices of some of his predecessors. Robert Schuman, founder of what is now the EU, already emphasized the importance of a ‘soul’ for Europe. And he mentioned among others a notion like ‘solidarity’. Perhaps we should go back to his notes? See: http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/symbols/europe-day/schuman-declaration/index_en.htm
sicher nichts
Yes, I want change. The Contract of Lisbon should be replaced eith a new one that gives back sovereignity to the member states and does not promote homosexuality and Homosexualist ideological terror with a “list of rights”.
military provocation Ukraine, USA and Belgium against Russia (shown on the German television channel Mainz)!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5mcsZYAW_k
Yes…shut the worthless eu Down.
Here’s the Renzi plan: Germany and Netherlands should give Italy more money.
Oh, I’m sure he’ll dress it up by using the word ‘Europe’ rather than the name of his own country.
Kind of like Bismarck is once supposed to have said foreign diplomats and politicians continuously asked for things “in the name of Europe” which in reality they want for their own country but are afraid to ask for in its name.
Whoever speaks of Europe is wrong: it is a geographical expression, no more. It is not an idea and never has been.