01/07/2003 12:52
At midnight last night Italy took over at the helm of the EU amid widespread concern about Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's credentials for the job.
In the run-up today's start, Italy and its business tycoon premier were barely off the front pages of Europe's newspapers as domestic politics, comments by wayward Italian ministers, and actions by Mr Berlusconi himself threaten to make a farce of Italy's six-month political guidance of the EU.
Importance of the US
Italy has laid out its priorities for the next half year. One of the main ones, according to an interview with France's Europe One Radio yesterday is good relations with the US.
Mr Berlusconi was a firm supporter of Washington throughout the division in Europe caused by the Iraq war.
Another big task will be presiding over the Inter-governmental conference to fine-tune the EU's draft constitutional treaty.
Rome also intends to push for peace in the Middle East, promote a "New Deal" to boost big infrastructure projects in Europe financed by European Investment Bank bonds, tackle Europe's growing pension problem and stem the flow of immigrants to Europe by working with transit countries like Libya and Tunisia.
Raised eyebrows
It is unusual for a country to get so much coverage before taking over the EU's political leadership.
German news magazine Der Spiegel this week devoted a title to Mr Berlusconi calling him the Godfather (after a well-known film trilogy about the Italian Mafia) while Spain's El Pais says that Europe "fears" him.
Acres of column inches all over Europe were given to the suspension of a trial on bribery charges against the Prime Minister after the Italian parliament gave him immunity from prosecution.
Mr Berlusconi also embroiled Commission President Romano Prodi, alleging that he was somehow involved. Close co-operation between the two posts, is part of ensuring stability in any presidency.
Unilateral political actions by Italy have also caused concern.
During a visit to the Middle East, the Italian premier earned condemnation by not paying a visit to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat – an established EU policy.
He has also called for Israel and Russia to become part of the EU – something not on the EU's current agenda.
On Sunday Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said the EU should establish an agency to safeguard the coasts of Spain, Greece and Italy from illegal immigrants – this follows a controversial comment by Nothern League leader Umberto Bossi recently that the navy use canon to deter immigrants.
The Northern League forms part of the coalition government.
Derisory comments both about the Growth and Stability Pact – the rules that govern the euro – have also emanated from Rome recently.
In the run-up today's start, Italy and its business tycoon premier were barely off the front pages of Europe's newspapers as domestic politics, comments by wayward Italian ministers, and actions by Mr Berlusconi himself threaten to make a farce of Italy's six-month political guidance of the EU.
Importance of the US
Italy has laid out its priorities for the next half year. One of the main ones, according to an interview with France's Europe One Radio yesterday is good relations with the US.
Mr Berlusconi was a firm supporter of Washington throughout the division in Europe caused by the Iraq war.
Another big task will be presiding over the Inter-governmental conference to fine-tune the EU's draft constitutional treaty.
Rome also intends to push for peace in the Middle East, promote a "New Deal" to boost big infrastructure projects in Europe financed by European Investment Bank bonds, tackle Europe's growing pension problem and stem the flow of immigrants to Europe by working with transit countries like Libya and Tunisia.
Raised eyebrows
It is unusual for a country to get so much coverage before taking over the EU's political leadership.
German news magazine Der Spiegel this week devoted a title to Mr Berlusconi calling him the Godfather (after a well-known film trilogy about the Italian Mafia) while Spain's El Pais says that Europe "fears" him.
Acres of column inches all over Europe were given to the suspension of a trial on bribery charges against the Prime Minister after the Italian parliament gave him immunity from prosecution.
Mr Berlusconi also embroiled Commission President Romano Prodi, alleging that he was somehow involved. Close co-operation between the two posts, is part of ensuring stability in any presidency.
Unilateral political actions by Italy have also caused concern.
During a visit to the Middle East, the Italian premier earned condemnation by not paying a visit to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat – an established EU policy.
He has also called for Israel and Russia to become part of the EU – something not on the EU's current agenda.
On Sunday Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said the EU should establish an agency to safeguard the coasts of Spain, Greece and Italy from illegal immigrants – this follows a controversial comment by Nothern League leader Umberto Bossi recently that the navy use canon to deter immigrants.
The Northern League forms part of the coalition government.
Derisory comments both about the Growth and Stability Pact – the rules that govern the euro – have also emanated from Rome recently.
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