Now is the time to show maximum responsibility. It is not the time to pay off old scores nor for sterile partisan recriminations. It is time to re-establish a climate of calmness and mutual respect.

It's not just we Italians who are caught up in the difficulty.

Speaking from my experience as a person involved for a long time in building the European Union, it is important to have patience and efforts to build a community of nations.

The country will also need 'new forms of social welfare' instead of its current system which is excessively centred on pensions.

If the constitutional process is not brought to a successful conclusion before the European elections, then the whole process might run out of steam.

It is a responsibility we perceive from the entire international community to protect the stability of the single currency as well as the European frame work.

It takes a lot of effort to win back credibility after having lost it so heavily.