After the election of Antonio Tajani (Epp-Forza Italia) and David Sassoli (Socialists & Democrats-Pd) as vice-presidency of the European Parliament, and that of Gianni Pittella as head of the S&D group, Italy's role in the Strasbourg Assembly it is now completed with that of three of our MEPs at the head of as many parliamentary commissions and another six in the office of vice-presidents.
Of the three commissions now led by Italian MEPs, at least two are "heavy": the one for economic and financial affairs, entrusted to Roberto Gualtieri, and the one responsible for the environment, public health and food safety, headed by Giovanni La Via (Eppe-Ncd). Of lesser weight, but nonetheless of significant importance, is the Culture and Education commission, presided over by Silvia Costa (also S&D-Pd).
For the vice-presidencies, the Democratic Party took the lion's share with Patrizia Toia (Industry, Research, Energy), Sergio Cofferati (Internal Market and Consumers), Renata Briano (Fishing), Andrea Cozzolino (Regional Development). For the EPP-Forza Italia, Barbara Matera (Women's Rights and Gender Equality) was elected, for the European United Left-Green Left, Barbara Spinelli was elected for Constitutional Affairs. Spinelli, a journalist, daughter of Altiero, one of the fathers of Europe, was strongly criticized by Sel for having accepted the seat in Strasbourg with the list "The other Europe with Tsipras" after having ensured that, if elected to the European Parliament , she would have given up.
Roberto Gualtieri - Roman, 48 years old in a few days, degree in Literature and Philosophy, doctorate in Contemporary History, member of the board of the Italianieuropei foundation - is in his second European mandate after intense political activity in the DS and Pd. In the recent negotiations between the parties for the attribution of European tasks, he had been nominated by Renzi precisely for the leadership of the parliamentary commission for economic and financial affairs. Moderate in his language, in an interview he just called for "a better use of the flexibility contained in the stability and growth pact" and called for a "strengthening of investments".
Giovanni La Via – from Catania, just turned 51, has a degree in Agriculture, a doctorate in Economics and Agricultural Policy, full professor of the same discipline at the University of Catania – has been a MEP since 2009 after having been Councilor for Agriculture of the Sicilian Region. In his first European legislature – elected on the PDL list, a party he left at the end of 2013 to join Angelino Alfano's new center-right – he was a member of the Agriculture and Budget commissions. He was the rapporteur of the reform of the common agricultural policy and subsequently of the 2013 European budget. After the exit of Mario Mauro, he had been elected head of the Italian delegation in the Ppe group until joining the New centre-right. He is in the top positions among the MEPs most present in Strasbourg. He has now been unanimously elected to the presidency of the Environment Committee.
Silvia Costa – Florentine by birth, graduated in Modern Literature in Rome, professional journalist, engaged in Christian Democracy from a very young age, coordinator of the youth section of DC women, communications and press manager, editor of Il Popolo for seven years, member of the national directorate of that party, deputy for three legislatures, university undersecretary, scientific and technological research in the Ciampi government, then joined the Ppi and finally the Pd – it is in its second term in the European Parliament. In the first, she too was a member of the Culture and Education Commission, of which she has now been elected president.
In the light of the political curricula of the Italian MEPs elected in their new positions, many wonder if their entry into the button rooms of Strasbourg and Brussels will strengthen the weight of the "growth party" against the "austerity party". Barring a radical reversal of the position of the latter (moreover, for years an undeclared alliance has been established in the European Parliament between the three major groups, namely the EPP, S&D and the Liberal Democrats of the Alde), it is not unreasonable to imagine some form of contrast softening. Even if the forecast for the immediate term is that the confrontation between the supporters of the opposing sides, which in many cases reflect the geographical location more than the political affiliation, will continue to be bitter. As already seen on XNUMXst July, at the inaugural session of the new Parliament and of the semester of Italy's presidency of the EU, with the tough confrontation in the courtroom between Matteo Renzi and Manfred Weber, the new group leader (German like Angela Merkel) of the European People's Party.
Much will also depend on the outcome of the talks underway in Brussels between the designated president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, the popular Luxembourgian for a long time at the summit of the Eurogroup (which brings together the ministers of the economy of the euro area), and political groups of the European Parliament. Juncker, who has always been oriented towards policies of financial rigor, stated in the meeting with S&D deputies that "the stability pact must not be modified, but applied with sensitivity". Also anticipating, as we read opposite, that "the new commissioner for economic and monetary affairs will be a socialist".
A sort of "captatio benevolentiae" in view of the vote in Strasbourg on your candidacy for the top of the Commission or more simply the anticipation of an agreement already reached with the other two parties of the European Grosse Koalition?
