Italy comes out fighting in euro-row

Rocco Buttiglione says Italy wants a greater say

Italy's Europe minister has declared that his country is embarking on a policy of greater assertiveness in its dealings with other European Union countries.

Rocco Buttiglione told the BBC that France and Germany had been too dominant for too long - and Italy would now adopt a more British approach to its European dealings.

There is a strong continuity of European foreign policy, but continuity is a word that needs to be interpreted creatively in view of new circumstances

Rocco Buttiglione

His comments will reinforce concern across Europe about the direction of Italian policy, after veteran pro-Europe Foreign Minister Renato Ruggiero was forced from office at the weekend.

The portfolio has been taken over for at least six months by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose insistence that Italy remains a committed European partner has failed to quell the concerns of fellow EU members.

Mr Buttiglione said Italy's future lay in the EU, but as a more dominant partner.

Great Britain have the right to be protagonists - we can become more protagonist together with them, in a dialogue which does not exclude any country

Rocco Buttiglione

"Italy must say clearly what we want and what we don't want," he said.

"We cannot accept the idea that when a couple of countries in central Europe make a decision, it is a European decision.

"We should be more assertive in Europe and we should not be weak. There is space for more than two co-leaders."

The British example of fighting its corner would now be followed, he said.

"Great Britain have the right to be protagonists. We can become more protagonist together with them, in a dialogue which does not exclude any country," he said.

Berlusconi has stressed Italy's European commitment

Senior ministers in France and Germany have expressed considerable regret at the loss of Mr Ruggiero, and the Europe minister's comments are expected to cause further concern.

The eventual replacement for Mr Ruggiero will also be watched closely.

The man most widely tipped so far is Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini, who leads the post-fascist National Alliance Party.

I want to understand in what way the National Alliance, beyond Mr Fini's declarations that it is a post-fascist party, is radically different from its past

Jewish leader Amos Luzzatto

The leader of Italy's Jewish community, Amos Luzzatto, has said he wants assurances from Mr Fini that the party has severed all its links with fascism.

"I want to understand in what way the National Alliance, beyond his declarations that it is a post-fascist party, is radically different from its past," Mr Luzzatto told La Repubblica newspaper.

Even before the new row broke out, Italy had already clashed several times with its European partners in recent months, on issues including the Europe-wide arrest warrant and the siting of a new food standards agency.

Why should it be a scandal when once in a while Italy makes use of its veto?

Rocco Buttiglione

Mr Buttiglione hinted in his interview that Italy might now be more liberal in its use of the veto to block decisions it did not like.

"I hope veto power will be greatly reduced, or even abolished," he said.

"But until then, if it not a scandal when other countries make use of it, why should it be a scandal when once in a while Italy makes use of its veto?"

In general, he said, Italy wanted more decisions taken at national level, less bureaucracy and greater transparency and parliamentary control.

"There is a strong continuity of European foreign policy, but continuity is a word that needs to be interpreted creatively in view of new circumstances," he said.