US embassy cable - 02ROME274

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) 
 
 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 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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, PREL 
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 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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, PREL 
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 
 
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 2002ROME00274 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL