Italian Minister of European Affairs for Al-Jazeera Net: Corona will not take us out of the European Union

Abdul Majeed Faraji - Rome

The Minister of European Affairs of the Italian government, Vincenzo Amendola, denied that his country has a scenario of exit from the European Union against the backdrop of widespread criticism of the position of European countries on the spread of the Corona epidemic in Italy.

The Italian minister said, in a dialogue with Al-Jazeera Net, that the institutions of the European Union face their greatest challenge since the establishment of the union, calling on the European bloc to protect its citizens and support its economic strength.

Following is the text of the interview:

(This) anniversary coincides with the birth day of our Continent Union project. With the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, Europe faces one of the biggest challenges in 63 years of continuous integration. The institutions of the Union are in a living challenge today to maintain their strength in the near future, after this global epidemic has made a fuss in the lives of our people, bringing death and insecurity with it.

It is a crisis that will lead to a global recession and a strong slowdown in global economic and productive relations. The recession will not only affect the stock exchanges, but the European economy, supply and demand, and shake the business sector. For this reason, the European Union is called upon to face the greatest challenge since its inception. The Union must protect its citizens and support its economic power without wasting time.

Is the spread of this virus out of control in Italy, or is there hope for a remedy for the situation?

Italy has recorded more than 100,000 cases, and more than 11,000 deaths. These are very high numbers, which the Government has faced with very strong measures, which are estimated by the World Health Organization.

And the discovery of infection in Italy occurred at least two weeks before the virus spread in other European countries. Unfortunately, the numbers of infections are increasing dramatically in other countries on the continent, with a curve equal to us.

When did the idea of ​​Italy start creating a European guarantee fund or issue "Corona Bonds" with the aim of financing all the initiatives that governments would take to deal with the emergency? Was the lack of interaction as expected, or did it shock you?

With the outbreak of the epidemic, measures were enacted in all European institutions, measures were taken to coordinate health and medical supplies, and the provision of funds to various countries, and the European Central Bank made important choices with the "PEP" program to protect economies in the markets, along with new rules and supported monetary policy. Today, we are discussing more fiscal policy measures to counter the recession and give strength to restore our production capabilities, and the tools that have been discussed are many, including "Corona bonds" that some countries of the Union do not appreciate.

Decisions in the European Council are taken unanimously on tax matters, and this complicates procedures. But given the urgent imperatives and the depth of economic hardship, Italy, along with other countries, is pushing for new options immediately, commensurate with the extraordinary nature of the crisis.

Does Italy today feel let down by the European Union, or is it just a confusion because of the emergency and that it can be rectified in the coming days ?

For our country, the European Union is our destiny and it is an alliance that strengthens our national interest, and none of the 27 countries outside the union will be strong in global turmoil and crises. Covid-19 is the clearest example of this, and it is not possible for the individual alone to manage the matter, but the alliance helps in overcoming the individual difficulties of each country. For this, a coordinated fiscal policy is needed at the European level, such as that presented by the Italian Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Paolo Gentiloni, for the European Union’s “renaissance” plan and its economic resilience. Collaboration will also be needed at the G7 and G20 levels.

There is a growing feeling of anger among Italian public opinion towards the European Union, do you see it as justified, especially since the Corona pandemic is sweeping across the continent, and not only Italy, even if it was the most affected?

I do not think it is anger but rather a desire to see institutions more active and faster in finding solutions to problems. The public criticism of the European Union is a product of the financial crises of 2008 and 2012, when the European public’s response to the financial crisis was austerity and budgetary rigor, which caused a great crack in popular sentiments, and for this reason, we should resist Covid-19 without forgetting the mistakes of the past, or repeating them because the crisis Much greater than the past. We need cooperation and support to relaunch industrial production.

Will you wait for the European Union to respond, or will Italy resort to new allies outside the system in light of the country’s emergency?

Health policy is left in the treaties of states, and the European Union provides coordination between different national sovereigns, and this is an example that European integration lags behind, due to national selfishness, and we nevertheless realize how useful it is to look carefully at the accumulated delays in health interventions in the past weeks.

In recent days, the European Commission has created a joint emergency room, which distributes aid coming from other countries outside the European Union.

How can you balance between saving Italy from an economic and health collapse through cooperation and bringing in aid from countries outside the European system, while preserving the dream of a union?

Italy, like all of Europe, has its basic values ​​of pluralism, cooperation and solidarity with all countries of the world, and Europe has not put its sovereignty in conflict with anyone, and it always tries to cooperate with everyone in peace. For this reason, there is no contradiction between the assistance provided in the crisis because of this epidemic, and the Italian government is united in this difficult struggle, embodying a European and transatlantic policy open to the values ​​of international cooperation.

The Italian media, in its various directions, and with it an important part of public opinion, appears as if it is on one front against the European Union policy, not supporting the country in its ordeal today with the repercussions of the Corona virus. Are we facing a new Italian "Brexit" scenario?

There is no scenario for Italy to exit the European Union, and this crisis shows that it will be crazy for our national interests. The European Union must be changed, strengthened, and equipped with new tools in today's global reality, where economic and technological ties create new opportunities.

I think this desire also stimulates criticism from the European coalition, which is often shy or very slow in making decisions, and many Italian and European citizens are demanding "more Europe". I am convinced that no majority of Italians is willing to leave the Union for a national adventure without a future.

Your political opponent, right-wing leader Matteo Salvini, calls for an exit from the union by looking at the facts that have taken place after the latter abandoned support for Italy in its current plight. How can you face such a discourse, which has been adopted by even some leftists now?

The opposition expresses strong criticism of the European Union. In the past, they suggested leaving the euro, the single currency, or the union itself, and fortunately, they no longer repeat these slogans today, but this skeptical feeling of European policy management, by a minority in the European Parliament, was never followed by a clear alternative indication or even a full proposal on The country's future is outside the European Union.

How do you see the future of the European Union after the Corona epidemic. Is he in danger of disappearing?

This is the most prominent challenge in order to mobilize our present and future, and everything is at stake, and I do not think that many methods of management in the past will return. As for Europe, there is a basic test that must be passed, and it must find the courage and proposals to relaunch the European Union project, and Italy is demanding it strongly, and we want to change Europe and meet this challenge as well.

How do you see the shape of the world in general and the European Union after the end of the Corona pandemic?

Europe will come out differently, public opinion will change with sacrifices and suffering, and politics will also have to change its pace, and it will not return in the same ways of work, and it takes courage in the debate to face these historical facts that no one expected, and in the face of these events will show the value and strength of ideas and the quality of leadership European and global.