As the European Commission, led by the newly re-elected President Ursula von der Leyen, navigates a pivotal moment in continental history, the strength and unity of the European Union (EU) are more critical than ever.
From the internal market to complex geopolitical challenges like Ukraine and China, as well as the evolving transatlantic relationship, the EU’s success depends on its ability to remain united. Italy hopes to play a pivotal role.
That’s one reason why the Italian government’s nomination of Raffaele Fitto, 55, the Minister for European Affairs, as Italy’s European Commission representative, is so important.
Von der Leyen wants to make him Executive Vice President with a wide-ranging and influential portfolio, including some economic issues. His appointment would help heal the rift between von der Leyen and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which has bubbled to the surface in recent months and has been widely viewed as damaging.
But Fitto’s appointment has met resistance in the European Parliament, where the Liberal group is opposed. Would-be commissioners are questioned by the Parliament and ultimately appointed or rejected in a vote of the full chamber. The decisive vote may ultimately belong to von der Leyen’s European People’s Party (EPP), which is still the biggest group in the Parliament, though it’s far short of a majority.
Italy, a G7 nation (this year holding the rotating presidency) and a founding member of both the EU and NATO, finds itself at the center of this crucial moment. Meloni’s government has been striving to assert a clear pro-European and pro-Ukraine stance despite internal opposition.
Meloni’s decision to propose Fitto has been broadly well-received at home. He is not only free of the extreme-right background some may associate with the current Italian government but is also no stranger to Brussels. Having served for many years in the European Parliament, co-chairing the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group, Fitto’s political roots can be traced back to the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Italian tradition of Christian Democracy — the Italian equivalent of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
His nomination has been endorsed by MEPs belonging to the Socialist Group and former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who is aligned with the European group led by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Far from tilting the European Commission to the right, as some fear, Fitto’s inclusion could achieve a more balanced representation of the political families within the European Parliament. This development would not only benefit President von der Leyen and the European Union but also strengthen transatlantic relations, fostering deeper dialogue between the two great trading powers.
Meloni’s support for former Prime Minister and ex-European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s plan for the future of European competitiveness is also notable. Draghi’s September 9 proposal focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of the European economy, a goal that aligns with Meloni’s vision for Italy’s role within Europe. By backing Draghi’s initiatives, Meloni has shown that Italy is not only committed to national progress but is also engaged in playing a broader role in ensuring Europe’s economic future.
Italy’s position in Europe is crucial to the wider success of the European project. A strong and balanced Italy within the EU strengthens its institutions, promotes unity, and reinforces the principles upon which the Union was founded. Fitto’s appointment will help not hinder this process.
Paolo Messa is a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center. He was the chairman of the board of directors of Leonardo US Corporation, Inc. and executive vice president for geostrategic relations.
Europe’s Edge is CEPA’s online journal covering critical topics on the foreign policy docket across Europe and North America. All opinions expressed on Europe’s Edge are those of the author alone and may not represent those of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis. CEPA maintains a strict intellectual independence policy across all its projects and publications.
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