Berlusconi Seeks to Gag EU Executive

European Commission Spokesman Johannes Laitenberger, speaking at a daily briefing, responds to press questions about Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's attempt to silence the commission, the executive body of the European Union. Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, today threatened to block the workings of the European Union unless commissioners and their spokespeople were gagged and prevented from speaking out on "any subject".

His astonishing demand came after commission spokesman Dennis Abbott, from Britain, disclosed that the body would ask the Italian government for clarification of an incident on Sunday in which migrants trying to reach Italy were turned back to Libya.

Abbott said he was "surprised, really surprised" by the Italian prime minister's attack. "For days we have been saying that the commission is not criticising any EU state over its handling of immigration," he said.

Berlusconi said Abbott's words had been used by his opponents for their own ends. "It is a problem I shall bring to the table of the next council of the heads of state and government, and my position will be precise and decisive," he said. "We shall no longer vote, blocking in effect the workings of the European council [of ministers], unless it is decided that no European commissioner and no spokesperson may intervene publicly on any subject."

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[EUXTV]

2'16" interesting on role of spokespeople

[katmiller87]

Haha. I wish you were drunk, but you're not. It's sad that so many Italians (of all ages) feel this way. You (or perhaps your children) will be sorry in future, take my word.

[griparbelli]

Silvio,

get, please, right now , an enema of reinforced concrete! Thank you.

[xaviqaz]

@katmiller87 I´m nobody to tell italians what to do, and i don´t endorse any secessionism. But the italian state must change. I guess you can agree.

[xaviqaz]

@laritale88 I never despised southern Italy. I love Campania and Sicilia. I just said that with lower taxes and less regulations (northern Italy pays 50.000 million euros to Rome for nothing in exchange each year) they would be more competitive. Even in the current situation, Lombardia, Emilia, Piamonte and Veneto exports (to foreign countries) are worth more than 200.000 million euros/year. And according to Eurostat,World Bank, IHS and others, Italian industry is still the 2nd largest in Europe

[laritale88]

@xaviqaz Where did you get this absolutely inconsistent information? North Italy import a lot of products from the South of Italy . Honestly, i don't have any doubts that you may export a pair of pandoros, but the truth is that North of Italy would be useless without the South -and viceversa too. The tourism represents the basis of our economy, and the South of Italy has soooo much more to offer to the visitors.. If you only knew how many people from the North come and visit us every summer !;)

[xaviqaz]

@katmiller87 Value of Lombardia exports in 2008: 100.000 million euro (28%)

Value of Lazio exports in 2008. 13.000 million euro (5%)

But Lazio GDP per capita will probably be higher soon, thanks to the italian state

[xaviqaz]

@katmiller87 You cannot have a nation where the citizens of a few regions (Lombardia, Emilia, Veneto) pay much more than they receive from Rome, while 15 of 20 regions receive much more than they pay. It is absolutely unworkable, and hurts the productive sector. Is not Berlusconi´s fault. If north Italy was free (with lower taxes and better regulations) they would become the second biggest exporter in Europe. In fact 70% of italian exports come from north, 20% from centre and 10% from south.

[xaviqaz]

@katmiller87 More centre-right parties reject multiculturalism. Merkel has spoken against "parallel societies". David Cameron wants to cut immigration by 75% year, from 200.000 to a few ten thousands. Something that not even Lega Nord dares to propose. The UKIP (not BNP) wants Britain out of the EU and a 5 years moratorium (even for EU immigrants). And Gordon Brown is about to pass a point-based system. Also mandatory tests on language and culture in countries like France, Norway, Switzerland...

[xaviqaz]

@katmiller87 Youth unemployment in France and Sweden is 25%, close to italian rate. But Italy has well known regional differences: more than 40% in southern regions

[TylerMonaco]

Viva giulio cesare, viva mussolini, viva berlusconi Lol che cazzo dico :D

[ExPDL]

Berlusconi is Italy's shame!

[DerPortugiese15]

Bullshit... Berlusconi had been voted three times out of office but he always got Prime Minister agains because the other governments were even worse than his...