Italy needs to work harder and be less corrupt, says European Commission President Juncker
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said Italians need to work harder, be less corrupt and stop blaming the EU for the problems of the country’s poor south.
The controversial comments were immediately followed by a demand by European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, an Italian, for a retraction from Juncker, warning on Twitter that his words would be “unacceptable” if accurately quoted.
Tajani did not specify which comments he was referring to but Juncker said only a few sentences about Italy on Thursday during a question-and-answer session at a conference on the future of Europe in Brussels.
“Italians have to take care of the poor regions of Italy. That means more work, less corruption, seriousness,” he said.
He urged Italy not to “play this game” of holding the EU responsible, adding: “Nations first, Europe second.”
Far-right leader Matteo Salvini, whose League party on Thursday formed a populist coalition with the Five Star Movement after months of political uncertainty, condemned the comments, labelling them “shameful and racist”, according to Italian media.
A European Commission spokeswoman said that “the words attributed to President Juncker on Italy have been taken out of context”.
“The absorption of EU funds could be improved (in southern Italy) so that people can feel the results faster on the ground,” she said, adding that “the EU will continue to engage with Italy to ensure that help arrives where it is needed most.”