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.

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.

The Italian economy has been held back for decades.

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.

I believe that in Europe, we have a collective leadership.

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

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