(Finance) – “The goal of eliminating energy dependence on Russia between now and 2026 it is a remarkable undertaking, perhaps the hardest step will be to reduce it by two thirds by the end of this year “. This was stated by the European Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni host of the broadcast Door to door, broadcast tonight on Rai 1, underlining that “it is very important that we work together on this goal, I understand very well the fact that every single country, and even Italy rightly does it, is working to diversify the sources of energy supply in order to have relations with countries that can take over Russian gas or oil supplies, but I am also convinced that if we did it together we would perhaps have a greater bargaining force “.
As for the perception of a situation of greater difficulties for Italy “It is true that we find ourselves in more difficulty sometimes, but it is also true that we describe our greatest difficulty to ourselves a little more than it is. For example, on the dependence on Russian gas there are some Eastern European countries that have much greater dependence than Italy. And there is a country like that Germany che has not certainly less dependence than Italy. Having said that – he concluded – there is no doubt that the challenge is very demanding “.
“I think that Russia, not only geographically but culturally, is a fundamental piece of our common affair. Certainly the regime led by Vladimir Putin with the large-scale invasion of Ukraine he has taken a step from which it will be difficult to turn back. So I can’t imagine a simple mending of relations with a Russia led by Putin: in the immediate future it seems very difficult to me “.
Sanctions chapter: “must be severe, severe and effective but they have to hit the Russian economy more than it does do not affect the European economy “says Gentiloni.
On budgetary rules “I propose to find a way to facilitate the investments of some major common objectives, including the increase of the common defense, which has become a concrete horizon, but also the expenses linked to the climate transition. ‘that if in the previous crisis, that of 2008-2010 we chose austerity, we have cut public investments which in 10 years have reached zero, this time we can’t afford it. So we need to find the budgetary mechanisms which facilitate investments “, says the Eurocommissioner.
“To say we got there would be slightly optimistic. But at least there is a common recognition that this problem needs to be solved so I’m working on that,” he said. And “precisely because we are in this difficult condition”, with the war in Ukraine that “risks completely changing” the prospects of recovery “precisely because there is this risk, never before is there a need for investments: we must not encourage freezing we must do exactly the opposite “he concluded.