Germany’s solo move to backfire as Meloni demands EU plan

Georgia Meloni says 'we will not take lessons' from France

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Berlin’s plan prompted top European Commission officials to propose new joint borrowing by the bloc to generate funds that could be used to deal with the energy crisis. But several northern European countries are reluctant. A compromise solution could be if the money jointly borrowed by the EU was in the form of loans to EU governments and could only be spent on investment, rather than consumption.

“Countries will not be comfortable with European funding for consumption. There is much more openness for joint European funding for investments, that’s where the landing zone could be”, a senior EU official said last week.

Reacting to Germany’s solo move, Italian MP Ylenja Lucaselli warned individual schemes implemented by member states will “weaken” the EU.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Ms Lucaselli said: “We will make sure that there are common policies so that any nation that decides, as Germany did, to operate autonomously, actually weakens itself and not just Europe.”

The Italian politician is one of Giorgia Meloni’s closest allies, sitting right behind the newly elected prime minister in the Italian Parliament.

A right-wing alliance led by Ms Meloni, leader of Brothers of Italy, won the Italian national election on Sunday, September 25, raising concerns in Brussels that relations with the new government would be more difficult than under Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

Ms Lucaselli hinted her party will push for drastic reforms in the bloc, stressing on the importance of common economic and energy policies.

She said: “There is a need to open a dialogue on common policies but we live this today with energy but we also experienced it at the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine and even earlier with COVID.

READ MORE: Biden warns world risk of nuclear ‘Armageddon ‘Putin is not joking’

“It is clear that there are nations that try to protect themselves when Europe does not act, in my opinion, it is equally clear that when Europe decides to take a clear position and to proceed on a path , then all nations must adapt.

“From our point of view at this moment it is essential that speculation be eliminated, which is what is most affecting end users and therefore citizens and businesses.

“But this can only be done with a united Europe.

DON’T MISS:
Putin to lose 15,000 troops as army forced to surrender, expert says [INSIGHT]
Ukrainian forces equipped with deadly Himars rockets [VIDEO]
UK demanded no EU flags at European Community meeting in Prague [ANALYSIS]

“This is an energy crisis that not only started before the conflict, but that can only be resolved with common policies.

“Because then let’s say Germany has now put €200 billion into it, but it can also put €400 billion into it, this is not the issue.

“The theme is that if we do not find concrete solutions, we can put as much money and economic resources as we want, but they will never be enough.

“So obviously we have to have a little different policy.”

Source: Read Full Article