Italy needed structural reforms to become more competitive.

This is certainly not the first case in which a merger approved in one place hasn't gone through in the other. There was a case last year where the merger between two EU companies was approved here and blocked in the U.S.

Reference to the territory and total disregard for the nationality of the companies is of course the best guarantee that competition assessment remain just that and doesn't get affected by trade or other considerations.

It is rather unusual for Italy to be at the forefront of pro-market initiatives.

I know that speaking with parties, which I do, but not very often, is seen by many as a contamination.

There is no government in Europe where ministers go through that kind of confirmation process, which in fact is modeled on the way the U.S. cabinet members are confirmed.

Not all Greeks are ready to do whatever is necessary to stay in the euro.