Europe has to avoid old prejudices and new ones. That means north versus south, rich versus poor.

As to the question of elected or not elected, each member of the European Commission has been appointed jointly by the governments of the 15 member states, and undergone individual scrutiny and a vote of confidence from the European Parliament.

Growth in any individual European country has to be the result of policies for growth pursued in that country consistent with budgetary discipline.

If governments let themselves be fully bound by the decisions of their parliaments without protecting their own freedom to act, a breakup of Europe would be a more probable outcome than deeper integration.

There was in Italy a hidden demand for a boring government which would try to tell the truth in non-political jargon.

The Italian economy has been held back for decades.

I hope that my government can help change Italian mentality.