The Italian economy has been held back for decades.

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

Italy needed structural reforms to become more competitive.

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

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.

If the euro becomes a factor promoting Europe's drifting apart, then the foundation of the European project is destroyed.

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