At the end of this afternoon's meeting with the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, the Italian premier Mario Monti reiterated the need for our country to pay "attention to the consolidation of public finances", which is of "fundamental importance" . In this sense, the Professor underlined again, there will be "a strong element of continuity with the previous executive" on the part of the government.
However, the commitment to fiscal consolidation "must not obscure, as has happened in recent years, the attention to growth and structural reforms". Monti therefore wanted to underline that Italy's monitoring "is welcome", but there is regret for what Italy has not been able to do: "It is a pity that it was Europe that had to ask us for these measures, because they are precisely the ones that serve the country's future the most".
According to Van Rompuy, however, the Italian government's action to tackle the crisis is based on "three pillars: fiscal discipline, economic growth and social equity".
As for Thursday's meeting in Strasbourg with the leaders of France and Germany, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, Monti said he did not know whether or not Eurobonds would be discussed. With the head of the Elysée and the German chancellor, explained the Professor, “we don't have a formalized agenda and I think this is the most interesting aspect. During the telephone conversation I was urged to bring new ideas”.
In any case, "I think I will continue to be of the opinion that there shouldn't be taboos on the objects of discussion in order to resolve the crisis". Furthermore, Monti concluded with reference to the Eurobonds, "I myself proposed them, as did the president of the Eurogroup, Jean Claude Juncker, and my predecessor, Minister Giulio Tremonti".
