Mario Monti: “Europe should not fear Trump but be careful of those who want to divide it and Meloni should not replace Von der Leyen”

As an old pro-European, the former Prime Minister Mario Monti has clearly made its voice heard in the storm of relations and the trade war between theTrump's America and anEurope increasingly weak and disoriented. Today more than ever, Monti argues in an interview with Corriere della Sera, we need to "give strength to the institutions of Brussels" to achieve what they propose Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta. “The obstacles – explains the former Prime Minister – are nationalisms but now it becomes essential to prevent any attempt by member states – or from outside – to disintegrate the European trade policy, which is one of the few government functions that has been truly shared by the Union”. Therefore we must not fear Trump but must deal together and defend our market “with centralized control of state aid and antitrust”. Monti does not spare warnings to Meloni: “It won’t be easy for her to act as a bridge between the US and the EU. The bridge, understood as dialogue, is useful, but if it’s about reaching separate agreements, I fear she won’t succeed” and if the Commission’s competence on foreign trade were to be affected in law and in fact, we would go to pieces on the rest”. In short, Giorgia, don’t think of replacing Von der Leyen. Wise words from Monti.