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.

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.

I am certain that most Germans have instinctive liking for Italy, just as Italians admire Germans for their many qualities.

The two greatest priorities for my government are tackling tax evasion and corruption.

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

Italy even in the future will not need aid from the European Financial Stability Fund.

In the area of macroeconomic policies, I think we'll see more centralization, like in the budgetary sphere.