EUROPE IS STRONG – says Italian PM as nation’s economy crumbles
THE European Union has recovered from the shock of Brexit according to the Italian prime minister, despite the bloc crumbling under the weight of multiple economic crisis and the migrant crisis.
Paolo Gentiloni admitted the EU had faced challenging times in recent years
Paolo Gentiloni admitted the EU had faced challenging times in recent years, with the rise of populism and eurosceptic sentiment.
And claims the Brexit referendum in the UK on June 23 last year has become a symbol of the discord across the continent.
But now he says now the “winds are changing” - and the EU is finally coming back from the tensions.
Brexit has become a symbol of discord in the EU
Former EU minister: EU should be concerned about Italy
Speaking at the inauguration of the new BNL-BNP Paribas headquarters in Rome, he said: "The European Union has lived very difficult years, especially 2016.
"Perhaps the referendum in the United Kingdom is the perfect example, the symbol.
"However, we have to say, 13 months after that referendum, that the perception in Europe is that winds are gradually changing."
The European Union has lived very difficult years, especially 2016.
Mr Gentiloni suggested the EU should now look to pursue "common goals", focusing on the monetary union, investing and protecting jobs.
The PM added: "We believe, after the difficult time of an apparent perfect storm in 2016, in the possibility of this reverse European trend to develop.
"Italy bets on this, aware that in order to regain full propulsion, the European Union must change and I talked about this with Macron and Merkel yesterday.
"I think it is very important."
Mr Gentiloni suggested the EU should now look to pursue "common goals"
The comments come just a week after Italy's Monte Dei Paschi bank was handed a whopping £4.7billion bailout from the European Union.
The world's oldest bank was forced to turn to the state for a bailout after failing to raise five billion euros on the market to shore up its capital.
Outside Greece, Europe has not seen such big state bailouts since the aftermath of the global financial crisis.