Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME274
2002-01-17 15:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

MFA VIEW ON FOREIGN POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF RUGGIERO'S DEPARTURE AND THE GOI'S ROLE IN EU REFORM AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Tags:  EU IT PGOV PINR PREL 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000274 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2007
TAGS: EU IT PGOV PINR IT PGOV PINR IT PGOV PINR PREL PRELEU PRELEU
SUBJECT: MFA VIEW ON FOREIGN POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF
RUGGIERO'S DEPARTURE AND THE GOI'S ROLE IN EU REFORM AND
CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 02 ROME 00274 01 OF 03 171552Z
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

REF: A) ROME 81 B) 2001 ROME 6573

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM WILLIAM POPE. REASON: 1.5 (B)(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000274

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2007
TAGS: EU ITALY'>IT PGOV PINR ITALY'>IT PGOV PINR ITALY'>IT PGOV PINR PREL PRELEU PRELEU
SUBJECT: MFA VIEW ON FOREIGN POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF
RUGGIERO'S DEPARTURE AND THE GOI'S ROLE IN EU REFORM AND
CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 02 ROME 00274 01 OF 03 171552Z
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

REF: A) ROME 81 B) 2001 ROME 6573

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM WILLIAM POPE. REASON: 1.5 (B)(D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: THE MFA'S DIRECTOR FOR EU INSTITUTIONAL
AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS, GIUSEPPE BUCCINO, REITERATED TO POLOFF
THAT THERE WILL BE NO/NO MAJOR CHANGES IN ITALY'S EUROPEAN
POLICY. PM BERLUSCONI SEES NO CONTRADICTION IN PROTECTING
AND ADVANCING BOTH NATIONAL AND COMMON EUROPEAN INTERESTS.
THE GOI IS DEVOTING CONSIDERABLE TIME AND EFFORT, AT THE VERY
HIGHEST LEVELS, TO SECURING ITS PLACE IN EUROPE. STILL,
BUCCINO SHARED THE VIEW OF MANY INSIDE THE MFA THAT FORMER FM
RUGGIERO'S RESIGNATION REPRESENTED A "WASTED CHANCE" FOR
IMPROVING THE STATUS OF ITALY IN EUROPE. PM BERLUSCONI'S
DECISION TO TAKE THE HELM OF THE MFA ON AN INTERIM BASIS
ALLOWS A COOLING OFF PERIOD, AND MEANS RUGGIERO'S SUCCESSOR
WOULD MEET LESS RESISTANCE FROM WITHIN THE MFA FOR THE PLAN
TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES.


2. (C) PM BERLUSCONI HAS SAID THAT A WELL-CRAFTED EUROPEAN
CONSTITUTION IS NECESSARY TO THE FUTURE OF A VIBRANT EUROPEAN
COMMUNITY. THE GOI WANTS A CONSTITUTION THAT INCLUDES A
CHARTER OF RIGHTS, AND MORE CLEARLY DEFINES THE ROLES AND
COMPETENCIES OF COMPONENT INSTITUTIONS. THE CONVENTION WILL
ALSO HAVE TO DEAL CAREFULLY WITH THE CONCEPT OF SUBSIDIARITY,
AND THE GOI WILL SUPPORT GIVING AN ENHANCED ROLE TO NATIONAL
PARLIAMENTS IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES IN BRUSSELS.
THE ITALIAN DELEGATION TO THE CONVENTION WILL CONSIST OF ONE
DELEGATE OF GOVERNMENT (ACCORDING TO BUCCINO, THIS MAY BE AN
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ROME 00274 01 OF 03 171552Z
ACADEMIC),PLUS TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARLIAMENT, ONE FROM

THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, ONE FROM THE SENATE. ITALY WOULD
PREFER THAT THE SUBSEQUENT INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE
(IGC) FINISH ITS WORK BY THE END OF 2003. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) ON JANUARY 15, THE MFA'S DIRECTOR FOR EU
INSTITUTIONAL AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS, GIUSEPPE BUCCINO,
REITERATED TO POLOFF THE VIEW INSIDE THE MFA (REPORTED REF B)
THAT FORMER FM RUGGIERO'S RESIGNATION REPRESENTED A "WASTED
CHANCE" FOR IMPROVING THE STATUS OF ITALY IN EUROPE AND THE
MFA WITHIN THE GOI. BUCCINO CONFIDED THAT HE WAS A GREAT
SUPPORTER OF RUGGIERO'S, AND LOOKED TO HIM AS SOMETHING OF A
ROLE MODEL. RUGGIERO HAD A LONG CAREER IN DIPLOMACY, A
STERLING REPUTATION AMONG OTHER EURO-DIPLOMATS, AND WAS A
FELLOW NEAPOLITAN TO BOOT. BUT BUCCINO HAD OBSERVED THE
PUBLIC ARGUMENT BETWEEN ECONOMIC MINISTER TREMONTI AND
RUGGIERO DURING THE LAEKEN EU SUMMIT, WHICH OCCURRED IN FRONT
OF PM BERLUSCONI. BUCCINO COULD SENSE FROM THE LOOK ON
BERLUSCONI'S FACE THAT HIS HERO'S DAYS IN GOVERNMENT WERE
NUMBERED. (COMMENT: AS REPORTED REF B, CHEERLEADERS FOR
RUGGIERO SUCH AS BUCCINO WERE CLEARLY IN THE MINORITY AT THE
MFA. GIVEN RUGGIERO'S STRENGTH OF CHARACTER AND SELF ESTEEM,
PERHAPS HE COULD NOT HAVE SUBMERSED HIMSELF ENOUGH FOR LONG
ON ANY TEAM; WITNESS HIS SIX WEEKS AS CEO AT ENI. END
COMMENT.)


4. (C) ACCORDING TO BUCCINO, BERLUSCONI'S DECISION TO TAKE
THE HELM OF THE MFA ON AN INTERIM BASIS WAS CORRECT. IT
ALLOWS A COOLING OFF PERIOD FOR EMOTIONS TO CALM AFTER
RUGGIERO'S DEPARTURE. BUCCINO ALSO APPROVES OF BERLUSCONI'S
PLAN TO HAVE EMBASSIES AND AMBASSADORS FOCUS MORE ENERGY ON
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PAGE 04 ROME 00274 01 OF 03 171552Z
PROMOTING ITALIAN COMMERCIAL INTERESTS WORLDWIDE, BUT THAT
OPINION WAS NOT SHARED BY MANY OF HIS COLLEAGUES. HE
SURMISED THAT RUGGIERO'S SUCCESSOR WOULD MEET LESS RESISTANCE
FROM WITHIN THE MFA IF THE PLAN WERE SEEN AS A CONTINUATION
OF BERLUSCONI'S POLICY RATHER THAN AS A NEW INITIATIVE OF
HIS/HER OWN. (NOTE: THERE IS CONSIDERABLE INTERNAL GOI
DEBATE, DESPITE THE REBUTTAL OF MINISTER OF PRODUCTION
ACTIVITIES ANTONIO MARZANO, OVER MOVING ICE (INSTITUTO
COMMERCIO ESTERO, EQUIVALENT TO OUR FOREIGN COMMERCIAL
SERVICE) TO THE MFA. GIVEN MARZANO'S OWN FIRM ROLE IN THE
GOVERNMENT IN HIS AREA OF EXPERTISE, WE ANTICIPATE THIS MOVE
IS UNLIKELY. END NOTE.)


5. (C) TURNING TO THE FOREIGN POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF
RUGGIERO'S DEPARTURE, BUCCINO SAID THAT HE HAD PARTICIPATED
PERSONALLY IN A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH BERLUSCONI, AND HE
ASSURED POLOFF THAT THERE WILL BE NO/NO MAJOR CHANGES IN
ITALY'S EUROPEAN POLICY. POLITICIANS, INDUSTRY LEADERS, AND
ACADEMICS ALL AGREE THAT ITALIAN FOREIGN POLICY HAS TWO FOCAL
POINTS; ITS ROLE IN A STRONG EUROPEAN UNION, AND ITS
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES. ANYTHING THAT WOULD
DETRACT FROM THAT PREMISE IS INCONCEIVABLE. BERLUSCONI SEES
NO CONTRADICTION IN PROTECTING AND ADVANCING BOTH NATIONAL
AND COMMON EUROPEAN INTERESTS. THE PRESS AND SOME EUROPEAN

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0877

PAGE 01 ROME 00274 02 OF 03 171553Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00
DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00
VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 OPR-01
PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00
SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /011W
-------------- 59492A 171553Z /38
O 171539Z JAN 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1720
INFO EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE
EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
NSC WASHDC
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USOSCE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 000274

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2007
TAGS: EU IT PGOV PINR IT PGOV PINR IT PGOV PINR PREL PRELEU PRELEU
SUBJECT: MFA VIEW ON FOREIGN POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF
RUGGIERO'S DEPARTURE AND THE GOI'S ROLE IN EU REFORM AND
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 00274 02 OF 03 171553Z
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

POLITICIANS WERE BUILDING RECENT EVENTS INTO A "FALSE
PROBLEM." BUCCINO INSISTED THAT THE GOI'S VIEW HAS BEEN, AND
WILL CONTINUE TO BE, THAT WHAT "BUILDS UP EUROPE, BUILDS UP
ITALY."


6. (C) BUCCINO NOTED THAT 2002 WILL BE A CRITICAL YEAR IN
THE HISTORY OF THE EU, AND WILL SET THE COURSE FOR THE FUTURE
OF THE INSTITUTION. THIS YEAR'S CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
WILL REQUIRE "REASONING, DEBATE, AND DEEPER KNOWLEDGE" OF THE
ISSUES AMONG MEMBER STATES, BUT THE FINAL OUTCOME WILL BE A
STRONGER, MORE DEMOCRATIC EU. THE CONVENTION PROCESS ITSELF
REPRESENTS A MORE TRANSPARENT, DEMOCRATIC APPROACH THAN HAS
BEEN USED IN THE PAST FOR DRAFTING EU TREATIES. PM
BERLUSCONI HAS SAID ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, PUBLICLY AND IN
CLOSED MEETINGS, THAT A WELL CRAFTED EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION
WOULD BE NECESSARY TO THE FUTURE OF A VIBRANT EUROPEAN
COMMUNITY. CONVENTION MEMBERS MUST AVOID CREATING A DOCUMENT
THAT CONFUSES THE AVERAGE EUROPEAN.


7. (C) BUCCINO SAID THAT THE GOI WANTS A CONSTITUTION THAT
INCLUDES A CHARTER OF RIGHTS, AND MORE CLEARLY DEFINES THE
ROLES AND COMPETENCIES OF COMPONENT INSTITUTIONS. BUT
FLEXIBILITY WAS ALSO ESSENTIAL. ITALY DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE
GERMAN GOVERNMENT'S POSITION THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A
COMPLETE "CATALOG" DELINEATING EU/STATE/REGIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES. CERTAIN ISSUES WILL REQUIRE CREATIVE
THINKING ON HOW CENTRAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN WORK
TOGETHER.

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ROME 00274 02 OF 03 171553Z

8. (C) THE CONVENTION WILL HAVE TO DEAL CAREFULLY WITH THE
CONCEPT OF SUBSIDIARITY. FORMER PM GIULIANO AMATO - ONE OF
THE VICE PRESIDENTS OF THE CONVENTION - HAS STATED PUBLICLY
THAT IN SOME AREAS THE EU WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO MUCH MORE -
DEFENSE, ENVIRONMENT, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH - BUT THAT IN MORE
"TRADITIONAL" MATTERS, LIKE AGRICULTURE AND STRUCTURAL
IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, THE "FIRST PILLAR" MECHANISMS MAY BE TOO
STRONG AND MIGHT HAVE TO BE REINED IN AND MADE TO ABIDE BY
MORE DEMOCRATIC RULES.


9. (C) BUCCINO SAID THE GOI WILL SUPPORT AN ENHANCED ROLE
FOR NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES IN
BRUSSELS. ONE WAY MAY BE TO ESTABLISH MORE FORMALIZED LINES
OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN AND NATIONAL
PARLIAMENTS. THE GOI'S VIEW IS THAT NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS
SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPEAL IMMEDIATELY ANY
REGULATION BELIEVED TO VIOLATE THE CONCEPT OF SUBSIDIARITY TO
THE COURT OF JUSTICE. UNDER CURRENT PROCEDURES, SUCH APPEALS
CAN ONLY BE FILED AFTER A REGULATION IS ENFORCED. BUCCINO
SAID THAT THE GOI'S SUPPORT FOR MORE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY
NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE PROPOSAL BY SOME
EP MEMBERS TO ESTABLISH A "SECOND CHAMBER" OF THE EP, WHICH
WOULD BE COMPRISED OF MEMBERS OF NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS. THE
GOI'S VIEW IS THAT SUCH A CHAMBER WOULD REDUCE THE LEGITIMACY
OF AND "RE-NATIONALIZE" THE EP.


10. (C) IN ADDITION TO AMATO, THE ITALIAN DELEGATION TO THE
CONVENTION WILL CONSIST OF ONE DELEGATE OF GOVERNMENT,
(ACCORDING TO BUCCINO, THIS MAY BE AN ACADEMIC) PLUS TWO
REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARLIAMENT, ONE FROM THE CHAMBER OF
DEPUTIES AND ONE FROM THE SENATE, AND WILL MOST LIKELY BE ONE
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PAGE 04 ROME 00274 02 OF 03 171553Z
OPPOSITION PARTY MEMBER AND ONE GOVERNMENT PARTY MEMBER. THE
FINAL DECISION WILL BE MADE BY THE END OF JANUARY. TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED BY DIPLOMATS FROM MEMBER STATES
(BUCCINO WILL LIKELY BE ONE OF THE DIPLOMATS).


11. (C) THE CONVENTION WILL WORK FOR ONE YEAR (MARCH
2002-MARCH 2003). SUBSEQUENT FORMAL ADOPTION OF THE
CONVENTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS BY AN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL
CONFERENCE (IGC) WILL BE SUBJECT TO MEMBER STATES' INTERNAL
POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS. ACCORDING TO BUCCINO, THE BRITISH
WANT A SLOW PROCESS (CONCLUSION OF THE IGC AT THE END OF
2004) SO AS NOT TO HURT CHANCES FOR PASSAGE OF THE EURO
REFERENDUM IN THE UK IN 2003. ITALY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE
IGC FINISH BY THE END OF 2003, GIVEN THAT EP ELECTIONS AND A
DECISION ON ACCESSION OF NEW MEMBERS ARE SCHEDULED FOR 2004.
(COMMENT: NOT COINCIDENTALLY, THIS WOULD BE A FEATHER IN
ITALY'S CAP FOR ITS OWN PRESIDENCY, WHICH ENDS IN DECEMBER
2003.)


12. (C) COMMENT: THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS GENERAL
STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS OF THE BERLUSCONI GOVERNMENT DESIGNED
TO REASSURE SKEPTICS THAT ITALY REMAINS FIRMLY ANCHORED IN
EUROPE. THE DETAIL OF BUCCINO'S READOUT ON THE SPECIFICS OF
GOI THINKING ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE STRONGLY REINFORCES

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0878

PAGE 01 ROME 00274 03 OF 03 171553Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00
DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00
VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 OPR-01
PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00
SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /011W
-------------- 59492C 171553Z /38
O 171539Z JAN 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1721
INFO EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE
EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
NSC WASHDC
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USOSCE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 000274

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2007
TAGS: EU IT PGOV PINR IT PGOV PINR IT PGOV PINR PREL PRELEU PRELEU
SUBJECT: MFA VIEW ON FOREIGN POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF
RUGGIERO'S DEPARTURE AND THE GOI'S ROLE IN EU REFORM AND
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 00274 03 OF 03 171553Z
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

THOSE STATEMENTS, AS WELL AS OUR CONVICTION THAT ITALY
REMAINS STRONGLY COMMITTED TO ITS VIEW OF A STRONGER EUROPEAN
UNION. THE GOI IS DEVOTING CONSIDERABLE TIME AND EFFORT, AT
THE VERY HIGHEST LEVELS, TO SECURING ITS PLACE IN EUROPE.
ITALY IS SETTING ITSELF UP TO TAKE AN ACTIVE, LEADING ROLE IN
PLOTTING THE COURSE FOR THE EU FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. THESE
ARE NOT THE ACTIONS OF A GOVERNMENT IN RETREAT FROM ITS
NEIGHBORS. END COMMENT.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

>
2002ROME00274 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL