European Commission Executive Vice
President-Designate Raffaele Fitto told his confirmation hearing
at the European Parliament on Tuesday that he was not
representing Italy or his party but Europe as a whole.
Fitto, who will have the reform and cohesion portfolio if he is
confirmed by MEPs, is a leading member of Premier Giorgia
Meloni's rightwing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party.
The FdI voted against European Commission President Ursula von
der Leyen getting a second term after June's EU elections.
"Five years ago I was sitting among you," said Fitto, a former
MEP who has been Italian minister for European Affairs, the
South and Cohesion in the Meloni government.
"I remember my political journey, from the local to the national
level to Brussels.
"I have always worked for a stronger Europe.
"It is an honour for me and I am ready to put all my experience
at the service of the Commission.
"It is an honour that my government recommended me.
"I am not here to represent a political party or a member state,
but for my commitment to Europe".
In his new role, Fitto is set to oversee the EU's post-COVID
Recovery Plan, the Next Generation EU programme, and the
implementation of the related National Recovery and Resilience
Plans (NRRP)
Valentina Palmisano, an MEP for the Italian opposition 5-Star
Movement (M5S), asked about FdI's failure to back the programme
when it was presented.
"In relation to our abstention on the Next Generation EU
programme, I can say that, at that stage, we had doubts about
its implementation," Fitto said.
"But that was a wait-and-see position, not opposition to it.
"If I were to vote tomorrow morning, it would be a yes vote".
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