It is very unusual for a country to ask guys who are not politicians to come and run the country.

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

Reference to the territory and total disregard for the nationality of the companies is of course the best guarantee that competition assessment remain just that and doesn't get affected by trade or other considerations.

The Italian economy has been held back for decades.

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

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

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.