Page 9 - aruba-today-20190209

A9
WORLD NEWS Saturday 9 February 2019

France keeps up

pressure on Italy in

historic EU dispute

By ANGELA CHARLTON and suburb this week with mem-
NICOLE WINFIELD bers of the yellow vests, a
Associated Press French anti-government
PARIS (AP) — France’s pro- movement seeking seats in
EU government and Italy’s the European Parliament.
populist leaders sparred French government
anew Friday, as business spokesman Benjamin
giants from both countries Griveaux said the visit vio-
appealed for calm amid lated “the most elementary
the neighbors’ biggest dip- diplomacy” because it was
lomatic spat since World unannounced. Referring
War II. to Italy’s populist leaders,
France said the stunning re- he criticized a “national-
call of its ambassador to It- ist leprosy” eating away at
aly was a temporary move Europe’s unity and said EU
— but an important signal members should “behave In this Nov.9, 2018 file photo, Italian deputy Premier and Labor Minister Luigi Di Maio talks to
to its historical ally not to better toward partners.” reporters during a press conference at the Foreign Press Association headquarters, in Rome.
meddle in internal French A participant in the meet- Associated Press
affairs. ing, French activist Marc but also the free circulation to vote on policy decisions cooled on a deal as a re-
In Italy, the deputy prime Doyer, told The Associated of political forces that have and candidates.”If useful, sult of the standoff. Di Maio,
minister who’s the focus Press that it was initiated a European outlook,” he we can offer them a hand who is also Italy’s econom-
of French anger stood his by Di Maio’s populist 5-Star said in a Facebook video and do political activities ic development minister,
ground, renewing criticism movement and aimed at while visiting Abruzzo. in service of the French pushed back.
of France’s foreign policy. sharing advice on how to Di Maio again blamed people,” Toninelli said, ac- “I’ve been following the Ali-
France and Italy are found- build a “citizens’ move- France for policies in Afri- cording to the ANSA news talia dossier for months. Air
ing members of the Euro- ment.” can countries that he said agency. France’s enthusiasm hasn’t
pean Union, born from the Doyer said it provided use- had impeded their growth As the diplomatic spat cooled now,” he said.
ashes of World War II, and ful technical and other and fueled the flight of eco- simmered, a French yel- The Italian business lobby
their unusual dispute is rip- guidance to potential yel- nomic migrants to Europe. low vest activist known for Confindustria and its French
pling around the continent low vest candidates and He also implicitly blamed his extremist views held a counterpart Medef wrote
at a time of growing ten- their supporters, and called Paris for the chaos in Libya gathering Friday in the Ital- to their respective leaders
sions between nationalist the diplomat spat an over- that has led to years of in- ian city of Sanremo. calling for “constructive di-
and pro-EU forces. reaction. stability and growth of mi- The standoff was clearly alogue” to resolve the dis-
French officials said Friday “It’s a political game by grant smuggling networks sending jitters through Eu- pute, which they warned
that this week’s recall of certain people,” he said. following France’s involve- rope’s business world, giv- could threaten Europe’s
French Ambassador Chris- “Free movement exists in ment in the NATO-led op- en that the two countries global standing.
tian Masset was prompted Europe, and the meeting eration in 2011 that ousted are top trading partners “It’s necessary that the two
by months of “unfounded didn’t cost the French tax- former Libyan dictator and powerhouses of the EU historic protagonists of the
attacks” from Italian gov- payer anything.” Moammar Gadhafi from economy. A pressing con- process of integration don’t
ernment members Luigi Di Di Maio said he had done power. cern in Italy is the future of split, but reconfirm their ele-
Maio and Matteo Salvini, nothing wrong by meeting Italian Transport Minister struggling national carrier ments of unity,” the presi-
who have criticized French with the yellow vest protest- Danilo Toninelli, meanwhile, Alitalia, amid rumored in- dents of the two groups
President Emmanuel Ma- ers without informing the offered France’s yellow vest terest by Air France in some wrote Macron and Italian
cron’s economic and mi- French government. movement technical ad- form of partnership. Premier Giuseppe Conte.
gration policies. A borderless Europe vice on launching a version Italian opposition leaders “Europe is an economic gi-
But the main trigger for the “shouldn’t just be about of the 5-Star movement’s seized on a report Friday in ant and we have to work to
crisis appeared to be Di allowing free circulation of online portal, which allows business daily Il Sole 24 Ore make it become a political
Maio’s meeting in a Paris merchandise and people, registered party members that the French carrier had giant as well.”q