Tajani: “No sign of openness from Moscow. Ongoing dialogue with Paris on the air shield for Ukraine”

ROME - Minister Antonio Tajani, the news arriving from Kiev still do not allow for any optimism. Are we destined to face a long war?

"Unfortunately, this is the case, there is no good news coming. Even Putin's unilateral ceasefire was for internal purposes only. We must continue to work for peace, even though all these signs do not allow us to be optimistic. While a number of international players such as China, Turkey and the United States could make a diplomatic difference, there are no real signs of openness from Russia at the moment".

Two days ago, the US National Security Advisor called Palazzo Chigi and reportedly also asked that additional military aid to Kiev be sent more rapidly.

"Talks with Washington are constant and normal, we are an important interlocutor, but there has been no talk of weapons. The sixth defence package is still to be finalised. As planned, there will be no dispatch before the Parliament is informed. Dialogue with the French is also underway to refine from a technical point of view the deployment of air defence systems based on joint technologies between Rome and Paris".

In Italy, a Europe-wide dialogue has begun between Conservatives and the EPP regarding the 2024 elections. Giorgia Meloni has already met the EPP President Manfred Weber twice. Do you think you can become a majority party?

"I am convinced that there is a centre-right majority in Europe, all the more so with the growth of the Populars and the likely victory in the national elections in Spain. A similar growth is being recorded in Germany. I am sure that the EPP will certainly obtain a good result. An alliance is certainly possible, perhaps even including Liberals, which is in fact what led to my election to the presidency of the European Parliament in 2017. This is something that is already consolidated".

Does the EPP fear the strong rise of the Conservatives in many EU countries? Obviously, this also includes Italy with Fratelli d'Italia.

"We will still be the driving force behind an alliance other than with the left. I hope this process will come to fruition. In any case, under all current projections, the EPP will still be the leading force in the European Parliament".

There is another variable, the Italian influence in the EPP: with Forza Italia declining, are you afraid of having less weight when it comes to the choices to be made in Brussels?

"Forza Italia remains a point of reference in Italy, I am the Vice-President of the EPP, the ongoing relation between Berlusconi and Weber goes beyond politics. Besides, Forza Italia's influence lies not only in the numbers but also in the history of the people who represent it. We have and will have significant weight in the EPP, Forza Italia may very well do even better than in 2019".

What would change for the EU with a new alliance with the Conservatives?

"First of all, we are talking about democracy, and we will remain guarantors of good governance. There could be reforms, for example giving legislative initiative power to Parliament. Many of the ideas that Fratelli d'Italia brings forward, as do other European conservative parties, are also ours. We agree that the EU should do fewer and more important things, and have a truly effective or shared foreign or defence policy. However, let's not succumb to prejudice, to the fear of a centre-right party that undermines the current balances: Ursula von der Leyen was elected by the Conservatives, they are part of the system, they are not entering the institutions of the Union today".

In Italy, there is debate about a federation or a possible centre-right single party; Berlusconi wants it, Meloni less so. Undersecretary Fazzolari has dismissed the idea. He says it is not on the table. What do you think?

"It's an idea for the future, not for today. We will win in Lazio and Lombardy even without a single party. Berlusconi has had a far-sighted idea that must be implemented with dialogue and without prejudice. We will discuss it and decide. It would be the ideal instrument to consolidate a collaboration that has been going on for so many years".

Will you therefore be divided in next year's European elections?

"We will see. What is important is that there is a solid coalition, despite the pure proportionality of the European elections. Berlusconi remains the father of the centre-right. It is to his strategic vision that we owe the victory of the current coalition in the political elections".

Do power relations justify Fratelli d'Italia's reservations? Do you fear an FdI takeover of your party?

"I don't see this risk, we are a plural coalition. I don't suffer from either superiority or inferiority complexes. Reducing our work to power relations alone is wrong: we talk about ideas and politics not just numbers. We have a lot to do, starting with the reform of the bureaucracy. We have a lot on our agenda".

Presidentialism, perhaps a Premier title, in any case a constitutional reform. Do you agree with FdI and Lega on this?

"Berlusconi spoke of presidentialism, but that is only the title, Minister Casellati is working on the individual proposals, and reforms are made with large numbers and parliamentary debate with the opposition. It is important that the opposition does not impose vetoes. It is to see what will be the best way to strengthen the executive function and increase the involvement of the Italians".

Regarding the spoils system, is it true that you want to change the top management of the MEF? It seems that in a number of ministries they are also changing the referents for the NRRP: is this correct or could it be counter-productive?

"The spoils system means democracy. It seems to me that here it is only deemed good when the left applies it. Whoever wins makes the fiduciary appointments. Rivera has not yet been replaced by anyone, but I think it is still the government's right to make choices. Everyone can choose to do what they think is best, the important thing is to look at the results".

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