EU news: Tajani demands bloc changes after Italy election
GETTY Tajani has said the EU needs urgent reform
The European Parliament president told the Italian news agency ANSA the EU summit this week must be a “turnaround” for the bloc. The Italian election delivered a blow to the stability of the European Union after eurosceptic parties came out on top. The Five Star Movement (M5S) became the largest single party in Italy with 32.1 percent of the vote while the centre-right coalition led by the Lega gained 37 percent of votes.
Brexit latest: David Davis meets EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier Mon, March 19, 2018 David Davis meets EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels ahead of a crunch meeting of European Union leaders later this week Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 10 British Brexit minister David Davis (L) and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier meet at the European Commission in Brussels
Mr Tajani said: “There is no more time to waste, we have to decide immediately and move from words to facts. “Europe has been sleeping for too long on the problem of migrants.” The European summit will be held in Brussels on Thursday, March 22 and Friday, March 23.
During the top level meeting, Mr Tajani will discuss with Chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Mr Emmanuel Macron the issues of immigration and employment. In a joint press conference in Paris last Friday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr Emmanuel Macron said: “The vote in Italy has shaken the EU, now it’s time to work. “The work that awaits us is important in a European context deeply shaken by Brexit and by the Italian elections that have seen the extremes take control and that have allowed us to experience the consequences of a long economic crisis and the migration challenges we have not been able to handle.”
GETTY The Italian election has shown the EU that eurosceptic parties are on the rise
Mr Macron proposed a "clear and ambitious road map" to re-establish the European Union. The French president said this was an important time for the future of the EU.
He said: “In the period that begins we have many things to do, it is an indispensable work, even more indispensable than a few months ago.” Mr Macron said by June there must be a “solution for the European asylum policy”.
GETTY Macron has said there must be reform by June