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

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

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

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.

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

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.

A lot of the American press at the time was saying 'just watch what happens when Bertelsmann tries to buy EMI, that will be a moment of truth that will show the Commission's true colors.' Well, that deal never happened either.