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

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

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

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

I have the most profound respect for the Department of Justice and the FTC. We in Europe are a younger and I would say junior institution to the historical antitrust experience of the US.

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 believe that reforms will not really take hold if they do not gradually come into the culture of the people.