I have the most profound respect for the Department of Justice and the FTC. We in Europe are a younger and I would say junior institution to the historical antitrust experience of the US.
Like other antitrust agencies we make our assessment of a merger or antitrust case based on its impact on our jurisdiction, and not on the nationality of the companies. This is exactly what the U.S. antitrust agencies, the Justice Department and the FTC, do.
It is very unusual for a country to ask guys who are not politicians to come and run the country.
In the area of macroeconomic policies, I think we'll see more centralization, like in the budgetary sphere.
Growth in any individual European country has to be the result of policies for growth pursued in that country consistent with budgetary discipline.
I know that speaking with parties, which I do, but not very often, is seen by many as a 'contamination.'
Much of what Germany and France have done in the rescue of Greece has also helped German and French banks, who for a long time were major creditors for Greece and Greek banks.
I don't believe we're seeing the beginning of a divergence. We have seen a partial divergence on this case.
Italy even in the future will not need aid from the European Financial Stability Fund.
There was in Italy a hidden demand for a boring government which would try to tell the truth in non-political jargon.
I know this isn't a widespread view in the Anglo Saxon world, but I believe that much of the reconciliation between more centralized governance and the scope for democracy - democratic control - will be resolved through an even stronger role of the European Parliament.
As to the question of elected or not elected, each member of the European Commission has been appointed jointly by the governments of the 15 member states, and undergone individual scrutiny and a vote of confidence from the European Parliament.
I understand that Italy could have been associated with the idea of an undisciplined country in the past.
