Success of Italian reforms in interests of whole EU

News article | January 23, 2012

The success of the structural reforms embarked on by the Monti government is crucial not only for Italy, but also for the Netherlands and the European Union as a whole. This was the message that European affairs minister Ben Knapen conveyed today in his meeting with his Italian counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi.

‘Europe is following the Italian reforms closely,’ said Mr Knapen. ‘We see that a great deal of progress is being made and that the reforms have solid support from Italian society. The Monti government deserves strong support.’

In his meeting with Professor Moavero Milanesi, Mr Knapen also discussed the negotiations under way on the European fiscal compact treaty and the EU’s multi-annual budget. ‘Since September the Netherlands has achieved a great deal in strengthening budgetary supervision in the eurozone,’ said Mr Knapen. ‘The Commission’s role has been reinforced, and there are now virtually automatic sanctions when countries repeatedly fail to honour their budgetary commitments. We now need to give these accomplishments the most solid possible legal foundation.’

Besides stricter budgetary monitoring and countries’ own efforts to implement cuts and reforms, the EU also needs to work hard to promote economic growth and employment, for example in the market for services and the digital internal market. The Netherlands and several other countries will make proposals along these lines at the upcoming informal European Council in Brussels on 30 January. At the European Council in March, the Netherlands and Italy will make proposals to strengthen the internal market.