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☆ 'Giorgia, Listen to Us!':Italy's Farmers Call on Meloni for Help
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

ROME (Reuters) - Italian farmers descended on central Rome on Thursday to call on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to offer more help to them and block European Union policies they see as detrimental to their industry. A group gathered in the Michelangelo-designed Piazza del Campidoglio, home to Rome's city hall, for a noisy protest featuring cowbells and banners, including one reading "Giorgia, listen to us!" Farmers are a key constituency for Meloni's right-wing coalition, which has a close relationship with the main sector lobby Coldiretti. "We have no relationship with the government so far because it is not giving us help. According to a draft amendment seen by Reuters, due to be approved in parliament, land income up to 10,000 euros ($10,770) will be tax exempt, and there will be a 50% discount for land income in the 10,000-15,000 euro bracket.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Michelangelo, Mattia Buzzone, Maximus, Daniele, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Keith Weir Organizations: Farmers, Reuters Locations: ROME, Rome, Europe, Poland, France, Germany, Rome's, Sicily

☆ Tractors Drive Past the Colosseum as Italy's Meloni Pledges Tax Help
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Angelo AmanteROME (Reuters) - A convoy of tractors on Friday drove past the landmarks of ancient Rome before Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told a delegation of farmers that the government would partially reintroduce a tax break for them. Four tractors, escorted by police, crossed the city streets and passed in front of the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, adorned with Italian flags and slogans decrying the EU's green transition. We don't want to create problems, we just want answers as soon as possible," one of the protesters, Luigi Allegrini, said. Coldiretti, the main agricultural lobby, has a close relationship with the government but the current protests are being led by smaller groups. "The government has defended farmers and contested the wrong choices imposed by the European Commission from the very beginning," Meloni told the farmers.

Persons: Angelo Amante ROME, Giorgia Meloni, Maximus, Luigi Allegrini, Roberto Rosati, Meloni, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Italian, Farmers, European Commission Locations: Rome, Europe, Spain, Poland

☆ Italy to Supply Admiral for EU Red Sea Naval Mission
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

ROME (Reuters) - Italy will provide the admiral in command of a European Union Red Sea naval mission to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Friday. "The European Union today asked Italy to supply the Force Commander for the Aspides Operation in the Red Sea," Crosetto said in a statement. The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Wednesday he hoped the mission, to be named Aspides - meaning "protector" in ancient Greek - could be launched on Feb. 17. Its mandate would be to protect commercial ships and intercept attacks, but not take part in strikes against the Houthis, Borrell said. (Reporting by Angelo Amante; Writing by Gavin Jones; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

Persons: Yemen's, Guido Crosetto, Crosetto, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Angelo Amante, Gavin Jones, Daniel Wallis Organizations: European, Red Sea, Defence Locations: ROME, Italy, Yemen, Gaza, Union, Red, Israel, Greece, Larissa

☆ Italy's Meloni Urges Swift Trial for Italian Activist Held in Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Italian anti-fascist activist held in Hungary for assaulting far-right militants should be granted a quick trial, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday, wading into a controversy that is souring relations between Rome and Budapest. The case is politically sensitive due to the long-standing ties between Meloni and her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban, who met in Brussels as part of a summit of European Union leaders. "What I talked about with the Hungarian prime minister is ensuring that our compatriots are treated with dignity, respect, and (given) a fair trial, and I would also say a speedy one," Meloni told reporters. Prosecutors are seeking an 11-year sentence for Salis, who is next due in court on May 24. Meloni told reporters she hoped Salis could prove her innocence, and said that while in Italy prisoners are never put in chains and shackles, this was normal in Hungary.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Ilaria Salis, Viktor Orban, Meloni, Salis, Prosecutors, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Italian, Union Locations: BRUSSELS, Italian, Hungary, Rome, Budapest, Italy, Meloni, Brussels, Milan

☆ Italy's Meloni Opens Africa Summit, Promises New Partnership
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The summit, being held in Italy's ornate Senate, will last all day, with Italian ministers due to outline an array of initiatives, from energy and infrastructure to health and education, that Meloni says will be mutually beneficial. "We believe it is possible to envision and write a new chapter in the history of our relationship, a cooperation among equals, far from any predatory imposition or charitable stance towards Africa," Meloni said in an opening speech. Eni, Italy's largest importer of natural gas, has already countered lower Russian supplies by shipping increased volumes from Africa, where it has had a presence for decades. The company has said Algeria, Egypt and Libya will be Italy's main gas suppliers for the next few years. Most had departed from North African countries such as Tunisia and Libya, many fleeing poverty and conflict in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

Persons: Crispian Balmer, Angelo Amante ROME, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Enrico Mattei, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Mattei, Alex Richardson Organizations: Italian, Eni, European Union, European, Energy, EU Locations: Rome, Africa, Italy, China, Russia, Gulf, Tunisia, Senegal, Kenya, Republic of Congo, Somalia, Ukraine, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Europe, North, Saharan Africa

☆ Police Arrest Man With Knife Near St. Peter's Square in Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

ROME (Reuters) - A man carrying a knife was arrested on Sunday during routine checks of people heading towards St. Peter's Square, a police spokesperson said, on the day the pope gives his weekly address to the crowds. The spokesperson said the man was a 51-year-old Italian who underwent checks in the morning in Via della Conciliazione, a road leading up to the St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. In a confrontation to disarm the man, one officer reported being lightly injury, police said. The spokesperson added that there was no evidence suggesting the man was carrying the knife for terrorism-related purposes and he was arrested on charges of injuring and resisting an officer. Ansa news agency reported that the arrested man suffered from a mental disorder.

Persons: Angelo Amante, Hugh Lawson Locations: ROME, St, della, Peter's

☆ Italy, EU's Oldest Country, Plans More Spending for Elderly
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The government was set to present the package at the end of a cabinet meeting later on Thursday. With a median age of 48, Italy is the EU's oldest country, and also has the highest old-age dependency, defined as the ratio of people aged 65 and over to those of working age, according to statistics agency Eurostat. Pensions already eat up more than 15% of gross domestic product (GDP), and the Treasury expects spending to reach 17% of output in 2042. In its 2024 budget, the government earmarked around 1 billion euros for several measures aimed at addressing Italy's demographic crisis. One temporarily removes social contributions paid by working mothers with at least two children.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Angelo Amante, Giuseppe Fonte, Alvise, Peter Graff Organizations: Italian, Reuters, Ageing, Pensions, Treasury Locations: ROME, Italy, Rome

☆ Italy Looks to Use G7 Chair to Boost Support for Ukraine, Scrutinise AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Italy will chair the G7, which also groups the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France and Canada, throughout 2024 and will host a summit in June. However, the source said G7 leaders were determined to show they remained fully committed to Kyiv and could not risk showing signs of weakness two years after Russia invaded its neighbour. "We must change the narrative on Ukraine," the source said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin had lost significant financial, military and diplomatic clout since the invasion. Italy is planning to stage 20 ministerial meetings during its G7 presidency, kicking off with a three-day gathering from March 13-15 on industry, technology and digitalisation, which will put a spotlight on the fast-paced AI revolution. Rome will also propose creating a steering committee to ensure greater G7 coordination on AI.

Persons: Crispian Balmer, Angelo Amante ROME, Vladimir Putin, Giorgia Meloni, Angelo Amante, Nick Macfie Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, Kyiv, Italy's Locations: Italy, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Canada, Africa, China, Washington, Brussels, Kyiv, Puglia, Rome, Beijing

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addresses her speech during the question time at the upper house of parliament in Rome, Italy November 23, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Acquire Licensing RightsROME, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Italy will provide 100 million euros ($108.91 million) to a new fund to help poor countries cope with "loss and damage" due to climate change, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday, adding she would invest 70% of her 4.2-billion euro Climate Fund in Africa. "We are contributing to the loss and damage fund with 100 million euros to help achieve the goals of this COP28," she told an event at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. Italy's Climate Fund is part of a commitment by rich countries to funnel at least $100 billion a year in developing economies through green transition projects under the form of state guarantees, loans and equity investments. In late 2021, under Meloni's predecessor Mario Draghi, Italy set aside 840 million euros per year between 2022 and 2026 for the programme plus an additional annual endowment of 40 million euros starting from 2027.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Remo Casilli, Rome, Mario Draghi, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, William Maclean Organizations: Italy's, REUTERS, Rights, Fund, Energy, Reuters, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, Africa, Dubai

☆ Italy's Parliament Approves Crackdown on Teenage Migrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

ROME (Reuters) - Italian lawmakers on Thursday approved a government decree that allows migrants aged 16 or 17 to be held in adult reception centres and gives police stronger powers to check that migrants are not falsely claiming to be under age. Under Italian and European legislation, unaccompanied young migrants are entitled to more favourable treatment. For example, they cannot be expelled and should have access to more extensive welfare and support services. It allows minors aged 16 or 17 to be held in adult migrant reception camps when places for underage migrants are not available, and says they can be held there for up to 150 days. Earlier this month, Meloni announced Italy would build migrant identification and reception centres in Albania, saying she hoped they could host as many as 36,000 sea migrants per year.

Persons: Giorgia, Meloni, Angelo Amante, Gareth Jones Organizations: Senate, Unicef Locations: ROME, Italy, Albania, Africa

☆ Pope cancels Saturday activities because of mild flu - Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Pope Francis speaks during the weekly general audience, at the Vatican, November 22, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Pope Francis cancelled his morning audiences on Saturday because of mild flu, the Vatican said in a statement. The 86-year-old pontiff holds regular meetings with Vatican officials on Saturdays, including a weekly one with the head of the Vatican department that oversees the appointment of bishops, as well as private audiences. He also had a meeting scheduled with the president of Guinea Bissau. Francis is missing part of one lung, which was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope, Francis, Angelus, Angelo Amante, Mark Potter Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, Thomson Locations: Guinea Bissau, Argentina, St, Dubai

More than 10 intelligence and police officials in five European countries including Britain, Germany and France told Reuters they are increasing surveillance of Islamist militants. A British security official said the war in Gaza was likely to become the biggest recruiter for Islamist militants since the Iraq war in 2003, and that calls for attacks on Jewish and Western targets had risen in Europe. Two Islamist militant attacks in France and Belgium last month killed three people, and these two countries, Austria, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have raised their terrorism threat alert levels. LONE WOLVESSecurity officials say the main danger for Europe is probably from attacks by "lone wolves" — assailants who are radicalised, often online, but have no formal links to more established groups. Although a truce has come into effect in Gaza, both sides have said the war is far from over.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, radicalised, Mark Rowley, al, Jochen Kopelke, It's, Kopelke, Israel, Peter Knoope, Knoope, Iman Atta, Germany's Kopelke, influencers, Europol, Thomas Renard, Juliette Jabkhiro, Angelo Amante, Johan Ahlander, Phil Blenkinsop, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, London, British, Islamic State, Islamic, WOLVES Security, Hamas, Dutch National, International Centre for, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, BERLIN, Israel, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, Iran, Gaza, Iraq, Europe, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Italy, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Qaeda, Afghanistan, Syria, United States, British, al, West

☆ Italy's parties unanimously back clampdown on violence against women
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] The Campidoglio, Rome's city hall, is lit up in red to honour women who have been killed by men to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, in Rome, Italy, November 25, 2021. The new law expands protections for women at risk to prevent more serious violence and stem a wave of femicides which have sparked outrage across the country. The government also pledged to campaign in schools to promote respect for women and raise awareness on the issue of violence among pupils. As of Nov. 19, 106 women have been killed this year in Italy, including 55 by their partner or former partner, interior ministry figures show. This compares with 109 women killed in the year-ago period, including 53 by a partner or ex-partner.

Persons: Remo Casilli, Giorgia Meloni, Eugenia Roccella, Giulia Cecchettin, Filippo Turetta, Antonio Tajani, Giuseppe Valditara, Angelo Amante, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Rome's, Rome, Italy, Venice, Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during a news conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, February 3, 2023. With Scholz from the centre-left Social Democrats and Meloni from the rightist Brothers of Italy, the two leaders and their governments make for unlikely allies. These include the construction of a pipeline to transport gas and hydrogen between the two countries and approaches to tackle illegal migration. The German stance on illegal migration has converged more with the Italian one. In the plan, Berlin and Rome pledge to enhance regular dialogue - for example through meetings of their defence and foreign ministers - and coordinate more closely on key policies in general.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Giorgia Meloni, Christian Mang, Giorgia, Scholz, Meloni, India's, Angelo Amante, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Italian, Social Democrats, Meloni, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, BERLIN, Italy, Europe, Ukraine, Albania, Rome, France

ROME, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Italy is considering candidates to take the helm of state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), three sources close to the matter told Reuters, as part of a wider shake-up of state-controlled companies. State-backed investor CDP, founded 173 years ago, plays a key role in keeping strategic assets in national hands. Asked to comment on a change of CEO at CDP, Meloni's office said any rumours of a replacement for Scannapieco were unfounded. Rome is expected to decide on the top management of CDP in March at the latest, immediately after the approval of this year's CDP financial accounts, the sources said. The state lender invests savings made by Italians through the national post office network Poste Italiane.

Persons: Dario Scannapieco, Fincantieri, Giorgia, Scannapieco, Antonino Turicchi, Stefano Donnarumma, Mario Draghi, Elvira Pollina, Susan Fenton Organizations: Eni, ITA Airways, European Investment Bank, Telecom Italia's, Thomson Locations: Italy, State, Rome, EU, Milan

☆ Italy says migrant pact with Albania isn't comparable to UK-Rwanda plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"This Protocol is not comparable to the agreement between the United Kingdom and Rwanda," Tajani said, rejecting comparisons between the Italian initiative and Britain's, which UK's top judges have declared unlawful. The protocol, seen by Reuters, says the camps will operate under Italian jurisdiction, and should open in spring 2024. Tajani told lawmakers Italy would bear all the costs, including building and policing the centres, and would pay 16.5 million euros ($18.00 million) for the initial expenses. Some 150,000 sea migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, compared to around 94,000 in the same period in 2022. ($1 = 0.9168 euros)Reporting by Angelo Amante Editing by Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, Meloni, Silvio Berlusconi, Angelo Amante, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Reuters, Albanian, Forza Italia, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Albania, Rwanda, Africa, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, Tajani

☆ Italy's cabinet backs crack down on women pickpockets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsROME, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Italy's rightist government on Thursday backed a raft of measures to improve public security including potentially tougher penalties for women offenders who are pregnant or have very young children, in a move aimed at pickpockets. The coalition League party had long called for the scrapping of a rule that prevents such women from being immediately detained, as part of its campaign against foreign pickpockets on public transport. "This is aimed at avoiding the use of the maternity status as an exemption when committing a crime," the minister said. In a statement, the Green-Left Alliance (AVS) called it an "abuse against pregnant women and their children ... who are blameless". The measure has been included in a government bill subject to approval by both houses of parliament before becoming law.

Persons: Guglielmo Mangiapane, Matteo Piantedosi, Angelo Amante, William Maclean, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, League, - Left, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy

☆ Europe's far right joins rallying cry against antisemitism, unsettling some Jews
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Sandrine Rousseau, a Green lawmaker, said Le Pen's presence had made her uncomfortable. "Marine Le Pen was given rounds of applause several times in the march," a source close to her told Reuters. "For me, the DNA of the far right is antisemitism. But analysts say Le Pen and her party are succeeding in shifting public discourse and perceptions. "Voters are led to believe that the danger no longer comes from the far right, but from political Islam."

Persons: –, Le Pen's, Jean, Marie, Le, Pen, Le Pen, Daniel Levy, Sandrine Rousseau, Giorgia, Marie Le Pen's, Serge Klarsfeld, Yonathan Arfi, Richard Sulzer, Olivier Veran, pollster Levy, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Juliette Jabkhiro, Angelo Amante, Sarah Marsh, Rachel Armstrong, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, Rassemblement, National Front, pollster Harris Interactive, Reuters, Rassemblement National, Conservative Party, Le Figaro, Voters, Thomson Locations: France, Israel, Palestinian, Paris, PARIS, Europe, Italy, Germany, Britain, EUROPE, Nazi, constituencies, Rome, Berlin, London

☆ Italy to build sea migrant reception centres in Albania
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Meloni said the Albanian centres would initially host some 3,000 people when they are due to open in spring 2024. More than 145,000 people have come ashore in Italy so far in 2023, compared with around 88,000 in the same period in 2022. The same source denied Italy would pay any money to Albania to host the centres. Meloni said Italy would build a migrant identification facility at the Albanian port of Shëngjin, and a repatriation centre inland. The main countries migrants have arrived from in Italy in 2023 were Guinea, Ivory Coast and Tunisia, official data shows.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Rama, Rome, Maurizio Veglio, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Alison Williams Organizations: European Union, Italian coastguard, Albanian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome, ROME, Albania, Albanian, Africa, Shëngjin, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Rwanda

☆ Italy Weighs Ban on Technocrat-Led Government in Proposed Constitution Reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe FonteROME (Reuters) - Italy's cabinet was set to propose on Friday a ban on technocrat-led governments, a draft law bill seen by Reuters showed, as part of a constitutional reform to introduce the direct election of the prime minister. Italy has had almost 70 governments since World War Two, more than twice the number in Britain and Germany. The right-wing administration of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took office last year, made ending the country's chronic political instability strengthening the bond between governments and voters a key policy plank. The main opposition groups, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and the 5-Star Movement, have already spoken out against the plan. Only the small centrist Italia Viva party of former premier Matteo Renzi said it might back the government.

Persons: Angelo Amante, Giuseppe Fonte, Giorgia Meloni, Mario Draghi, Sergio Mattarella, COVID, Matteo Renzi, Alison Williams Organizations: Reuters, European Central Bank, Democratic Party, Star Movement, Italia Viva Locations: Italy, Britain, Germany, technocrats

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reacts during a meeting of European heads of state or government in Granada, Spain October 6, 2023. REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsROME, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday that her chief diplomatic adviser had resigned, carrying the can for a prank call fiasco that led to the release of unfiltered remarks on Ukraine and migration. "This matter was not handled well, we are all sorry, Ambassador (Francesco) Talo took responsibility for it," Meloni said, announcing that her aide had quit. Meloni's office confirmed on Wednesday that she had a phone conversation with a Russian comedian who successfully posed as a high-ranking African Union official. Reporting by Angelo Amante and Alvise Armellini, editing by Keith WeirOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Juan Medina, Francesco, Talo, Meloni, Angela Merkel, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Britain's Prince Harry, Angelo Amante, Alvise, Keith Weir Organizations: Italian, REUTERS, Rights, NATO, African Union, Kyiv, Democratic Party, Lexus, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Ukraine, Israel, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russian, Italy, Russia, Kremlin

☆ Italy Extends Border Controls With Slovenia Deeper Into November
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

ROME (Reuters) - Controls at the border between Italy and Slovenia will continue this month, Rome's parliament minister said on Thursday, and the government could decide to further extend their duration. Italy reinstated police checks at the border in its northeast as of Oct. 21 for an initial 10 days, suspending the free movement normally allowed within most of the European Union under the Schengen treaty. Last month, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the border checks were likely to be extended into next year, citing the risk of terrorists among the migrants in transit on the Balkan route. Ciriani said 10 people had so far been arrested on charges of aiding and abetting illegal immigration as a result of the controls. (Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Writing by Angelo Amante; Editing by Keith Weir)

Persons: Luca Ciriani, Matteo Piantedosi, Ciriani, Giuseppe Fonte, Angelo Amante, Keith Weir Organizations: European Union, Hamas, Slovenian Locations: ROME, Italy, Slovenia, Israel, France, Belgium, Rome, Croatian, Italian

☆ Be cautious, dove Visco tells ECB on last day as council member
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsROME, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank (ECB) should be cautious in coming months having hiked rates steeply to curb inflation, Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco said on Tuesday on his last day in office. In a speech to bankers in Rome Visco, long seen as a dove on the ECB's governing council, reiterated his frequent calls for prudence. "I think the (ECB's) orientation to keep rates at current levels for a sufficiently long period of time... is a wise decision," Visco said. Visco will be replaced as Bank of Italy governor by Fabio Panetta, a former member of the ECB executive board.

Persons: Heiko Becker, Ignazio Visco, Rome Visco, Visco, Fabio Panetta, Giuseppe Fonte, Angelo Amante, Gavin Jones Organizations: European Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Italy, Bank of, ECB, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Rome, Bank of Italy

☆ Italy drafts plan for direct election of prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary Italy suffers from chronic political instabilityCabinet seen discussing proposed reform on FridayBroad majority needed to avoid referendumROME, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and top ministers on Monday backed a constitutional reform proposal introducing the direct election of the prime minister, in an effort to end the country's chronic political instability. Meloni made constitutional reform a key policy plank of her right-wing coalition after winning power in September last year. Italy has had almost 70 governments since World War Two, more than twice the number in Britain and Germany. Matteo Renzi, who stepped down as premier after his failed reform in 2016, said his small centrist Italia Viva party would be ready to back the direct election of the prime minister. The prime minister need not necessarily be an elected politician.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, Benito Mussolini's, Matteo Renzi, Angelo Amante, Gavin Jones, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Italian, Monday, Star Movement, Democratic Party, Italia Viva, Thomson Locations: Italy, ROME, Britain, Germany

☆ European leaders urge Serbia to 'de facto' recognise Kosovo
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Much of the tension has focused on northern Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs form a majority. Serbia and Kosovo have spent years talks mediated by the European Union to normalise their relations. While the EU has previously shied away from the politically sensitive question of de facto recognition of Kosovo, the three leaders made clear that was what they expected from Serbia, putting pressure on Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. "We call on Kosovo to launch the procedure to establish the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in Kosovo as prescribed in the draft Statute, and on Serbia to deliver on de-facto recognition," the statement said. "Without progress in normalising relations, both sides risk missing important opportunities," the three leaders said.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Giorgia Meloni, Macron, Scholz, Meloni, Albin Kurti, Aleksandar Vucic, Vucic, Andrew Gray, Angelo Amante, Alistair Bell Organizations: Italian, Kosovo, European Union, EU, Serbian, of Serb, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, France, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Kosovo, Belgrade, EU

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