Cernobbio, Vannacci: ‘The EU risks becoming irrelevant.’ Monti: ‘His is fascist rhetoric.’

“Since Vannacci is in the area, I’d suggest he pay a visit to Dongo to remind himself of the end of the story they seem so nostalgic about.” This was stated by PD secretary Elly Schlein on the sidelines of the ‘L’altra Cernobbio’ event, organised by the left to coincide with the Teha Forum, in response to those who asked her to comment on Mario Monti’s concerns regarding the Futuro Nazionale programme. “In the end, it was a cowardly escape, in secret, after they had devastated the country, after they had stained the country with dictatorship, deportations, racial laws and collaboration with Hitler,” she concluded. “You just need to know your history.”

Intesa’s takeover bid for MPS, in partnership with Unipol, is “a well-structured, significant and astute move”, whilst Monte’s counter-move “is defensive, less well-structured – we’ll see what the market does” – but, in any case, “only one has a chance of succeeding”. This was the view of the Under-Secretary for the Economy, Federico Freni, speaking on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum in response to questions about the banking shake-up. ‘It seems to me that at least one of the two deals,’ he added, ‘is structured to resolve antitrust issues relating to market concentration in advance, because the fact that Unipol can participate in the second phase of the deal, together – through BPER, creating another entity – pre-emptively resolves a concentration issue that would otherwise need to be addressed, as Intesa obviously could not hold all the branches.”

“The MEF’s stake in MPS is one that we divested to the extent required by the European Commission. We have never influenced the bank’s performance. Proof of this is that we did not attend the last shareholders’ meeting and will continue to do so.” This was the assurance given by the Under-Secretary for the Economy to those asking about the timeline for a possible exit from Monte dei Paschi’s share capital. The timing of the sale of the stake? “We will divest it at the most advantageous time for the MEF and, therefore, for the public, because stakes are divested at the point of maximum possible return.” As for the Treasury’s possible participation in the forthcoming general meeting at Rocca Salimbeni, “we will decide that later, but the MEF’s stake is not there to influence the transaction or to decide which transaction goes ahead.”

“The energy transition, driven by regulatory pressure, can be transformed into an industrial opportunity. Regulations can act as a catalyst to turn a cost into an opportunity.” This was stated by Fabrizio Mattana, Executive Vice President of Gas Assets at Edison, during the Adnkronos live broadcast from the Cernobbio Forum. During the Forum, the report ‘Decarbonising the Sea, Strengthening Italia: Maritime Transport, Energy Carriers and Ports, New Competitiveness in the Mediterranean’ was presented; it was produced by the TEHA Group in collaboration with Edison and NextChem. “Italia is already in a strong position within the blue economy; it ranks first or second in Europe for the volume of goods and passengers transported,” said Mattana, who highlighted the importance of decarbonising transport – particularly maritime transport – and the role of ports as a driver of development. The study highlights the need for coordinated development between the public and private sectors, with businesses playing a fundamental role. Edison has already taken steps regarding the transport transition, and its responsibility is to play its part in the investment required to bring about a shift in the energy consumption mix.” However, companies must be supported “by a stable and harmonised regulatory framework at European level, perhaps by reinvesting revenues from the ETS sector to boost demand itself”.

“I am not in the least bit concerned. The two ongoing investigations concern matters that have nothing to do with the party, myself or the party leadership.” This was stated by Futuro Nazionale leader Roberto Vannacci on the sidelines of the Teha forum in Cernobbio. “As for another investigation – which is ridiculous – concerning the possible re-establishment of the fascist party, it really is ridiculous,” he added. “You only need to have read the Scelba Law to realise that it is a fanciful notion, if not downright science fiction.”

‘I was very taken with the references to Roman history and culture included in his programme. The Romans used to say “divide and rule”, and Trump and Putin are trying to apply this motto to the EU from the outside. For their part, the sovereigntists in European countries are doing the same from within, and it matters little whether they are driven by Trump. These very diverse forces are called populists or nationalists. My belief is that, in most cases, they act against the interests of the people and the nation. I love Italia very much, and when it came to making sacrifices to help my country, I tried to do my best, but I like Albert Camus’s phrase: ‘I love my country too much to be a nationalist’. ‘That is exactly my position.’ Former Prime Minister Mario Monti chose these words to respond to the leader of Futuro Nazionale, Roberto Vannacci, following his speech at the Cernobbio Forum. On the hypothesis of the ‘reconstruction of the fascist party’, having read his programme, I have noticed that one aspect of fascism is already in place: it is probably not the re-establishment itself, but I see in him the re-establishment of the narrative, the rhetoric and the spirit of fascism. More or less’, Vannacci’s programme ‘declares the superiority of Italia and Italians, and therefore of the Italian race. I have never considered it inferior, but not necessarily, a priori, superior either. We are proud of our Italian identity, but you imply that it is not recognised or respected; here, however, ‘the Calimero complex’ comes into play. At a time when Italia is developing well, I am terrified of a psychological reconstruction of a ‘little Italy’. If there is any way to prevent this, I will devote every last ounce of my energy to doing so,’ he continued.

From a Europe ‘at risk of becoming irrelevant’ to the EU budget, which risks ‘a new wealth tax’, via the defence of the principle of unanimity for decisions taken in Brussels (‘it is a guarantee’), the ‘no’ to a single European army, the hope that certain matters might be returned to individual Member States (‘powers should not be irreversible’) and the call to ‘throw the Green Deal overboard’. On stage at the Cernobbio Forum, it is the turn of the leader of Futuro Nazionale, Roberto Vannacci, who has been called upon to outline his ‘recipe’ for the future of the European economy.

He took several jabs, both at former Prime Minister Mario Monti, sitting beside him, and at the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, who opened the second day’s proceedings this morning at Villa d’Este. The first issue, in his view, is that of the low birth rate: ‘Rather than a “ReArm Europe”, perhaps a “ReBorn Europe” would have been better, because with these birth rates, it is by no means certain that there is a future.’ The general begins by looking back to the Maastricht Treaties and provocatively asks the audience in Cernobbio: ‘If we were to take a blank sheet of paper today, would we rewrite them in the same way?’ From there, he reflects on ‘the inertia that always exists when it comes to changing the European architecture’. In the past, the Eurozone ‘accounted for 30 per cent of global GDP; today, it is around half. There is industrial decline and redundancies in the automotive sector’. If, then, after 30 years of integration, the Old Continent ‘has lost competitiveness, we cannot prescribe the same remedy without explaining why it has not worked to date’.

“First and foremost, we need to unite Europe; in other words, we must immediately bring the seven countries that are already in the process of joining the European Union to the negotiating table, and then we need to look at how to open up to talent from outside Europe.” So said the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio. The Albanian Prime Minister went on to add that “it wouldn’t be a bad idea to say to all the talented people in the world: ‘Come and study at our universities and then, once you’ve finished your studies, we’ll give you a European passport as well’. “It would be entirely legal and also very beneficial for Europe’s human resources, which are dwindling,” he said. Rama went on to say that immigration has “an impact on the economy”, but that this depends on one’s perspective: “If we look at it from the perspective of illegal immigration, it can have negative consequences, but if we look at it from the perspective of legal immigration, it is only a good thing for the economy”, said Rama, who believes that “we need to find a balance – which is currently lacking – to combat illegal immigration, whilst also finding a way to tackle Europe’s demographic winter”. As for Italia, “it is not just a great partner; Italia is the great love, the rest are partners”, Rama added.

‘Europe is surrounded by major powers: to the west, the United States, which – even more so under Donald Trump’s presidency – has chosen to devote itself exclusively to defending its own interests, withdrawing from a range of global projects. The US now places us in a position of technological and digital vassalage that we must take into account.” This was stated by Jordan Bardella, leader of the Rassemblement National, speaking at a panel discussion at the Cernobbio Forum organised by the Teha Group, currently taking place at Villa d’Este. ‘In the East, China places us in a position of industrial, commercial and economic dependence. And finally, we have the Global South, whose demographics – perhaps the only exact science – represent a significant risk both to security, particularly with regard to migration to Europe, and in terms of new considerations and challenges, which we are now examining in relation to the Global South,’ Bardella added.

‘Immigration is the greatest challenge facing Europe and, above all, France. If we are in government in France tomorrow, our country will be one of the least attractive in Europe for immigrants. For this reason, as soon as we come to power, we intend to hold a referendum and consult the French people on this issue. Through a referendum, we will propose to them the abolition of ius soli, border controls, the processing of asylum applications at the embassies and consulates of the countries of origin, and national priority for French citizens in access to social benefits.” So said Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National, upon his arrival at Villa D’Este for the Teha Forum in Cernobbio, where he reiterated the problem of ‘immigration, which has now spiralled completely out of control’ and emphasised that the desire to “protect our identity and our homelands” is the factor that may create “common ground with the Italian government”. The French leader then highlighted the ‘stability’ of the Italian government and the work of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: ‘She is a figure of stability for Italia and for Europe, and I hope she will continue to lead the Italian government for several more years,’ said Bardella. The RN president also spoke about his relationship with the Italian Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, describing the bond between them as an ‘extremely strong bond of friendship, which is extremely important to us’.

On the issue of the EU budget, ‘we must reach an agreement by the end of this year. We cannot risk any disruption to EU funding in 2028. This would have repercussions for our farmers, our businesses, our students, researchers and innovators – in short, for our citizens. I know it will not be easy, but I am encouraged by the constructive spirit of the leaders and am confident that we will succeed in reaching’ an agreement. This is the hope expressed by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, during his speech at the Ambrosetti Forum, currently taking place at Villa d’Este (Cernobbio). Like national budgets, he explains, ‘the European Union’s budget must fulfil its priorities within the constraints of limited resources. Much of the funding comes from Member States’ national contributions”, but, he warns, “we must keep these contributions within reasonable limits”. For this reason, “a balanced and ambitious package of so-called new own resources – that is, the European Union’s own resources – will be an essential part of an overall agreement”, concludes Costa.

Migrants and collective defence were also addressed in the speech given by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, in Cernobbio. “We must combat illegal immigration: the way forward lies in sound agreements with countries of transit and origin,” he said. “Common defence is fundamental. We have decided to take on greater responsibility by increasing military spending. It is important to spend more wisely, not just to spend more. We need a very strong collective defence. Now is the time to take the step towards a true community; not to break away from the US, but only if the EU invests more will NATO remain. Common defence ensures NATO’s survival. Respect for science is at its highest in Europe. Even on sensitive issues such as climate change.”

“How can Europe remain a global leader? It must have confidence in itself. We have built the strongest single market in the world, a great democracy. No one else has achieved what we have in terms of freedom of expression and social security,” said European Council President Antonio Costa in Cernobbio. “We are a sought-after partner. We have the world’s largest trade network. We are about to ratify agreements with a further 25 countries. Not tariffs, but successful outcomes. With initiatives that can go beyond trade. Even on AI: we are building a multipolar network. Instead of spheres of influence, we have networks of collaboration to defend multilateralism. The EU is organising an event with Canada and Kenya to support multilateralism, starting with the UN. Support for the EU project remains strong. The forthcoming enlargement will further strengthen the Union.

Europe is not lagging behind. It needs to improve its response times because the world is changing. The reports by Draghi and Letta have identified many issues. And we have adopted a strategic plan to incorporate some of their suggestions. Less bureaucracy, more investment. But there is much to be done before the end of 2027. The Council, the Commission and the Parliament are working together. We must complete the single market for energy, telecoms and capital to transform savings into investments. We must continue to simplify procedures to ensure the EU does not become a burden. We need simpler rules and greater protection. Companies must be able to operate in all countries under a single corporate regime: the ‘28th regime’ will make this possible. We need to view the transition to climate neutrality as both an economic opportunity and a matter of security. Investing in renewables or nuclear power guarantees security. Europe aspires to operate at the very highest level in the field of AI, guided by democratic values. We want to invest in people and talent, harness the skills of our citizens and retain them. The most challenging issue is housing. Finally, we must mobilise investment and we need a more integrated capital market. Aware of the challenges, we are taking decisive action. We need financial instruments, including a long-term budget, which is a political choice we must shape together. The next budget must be competitive; that is why it will have a different structure. It must have clearly defined priorities shared amongst Member States

“We’re always ready; it’s going to be a lovely day, a very interesting one. Here in Cernobbio, in any case, it’s a wonderful setting, and I’m proud and honoured to be here, because it means that the worlds of business and finance are also taking an interest in what’s happening in Italian politics.” This was stated by Roberto Vannacci, leader of Futuro Nazionale, upon arriving at the Teha Forum in Cernobbio, where he is due to speak today. Vannacci explained to reporters that he will address “the issues of integration and sovereignty in Europe – the topics I’ve been asked to explore” and “I will talk about a different Europe. Not the Europe we have now.” When asked if he was concerned about the investigations into his party, the former general replied: “No, absolutely not.” Finally, he spoke of his excitement at being invited to the Teha Forum: “Well, let’s just say that, physically speaking, the aeroplane launch was more exciting,” he concluded.

“The forthcoming enlargement – to include Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans – will further strengthen the European Union as a geopolitical actor for peace, security and prosperity.” So said the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, during his speech at the Ambrosetti Forum, currently taking place at Villa d’Este. This is because, he emphasised, “Europe continues to be a magnet for millions of people”. His is a call to view enlargement – which, in his view, represents “the greatest geopolitical investment Europe has ever made” – because “enlargement has strengthened democracy, the rule of law and our shared prosperity and resilience”.

The future of European politics and Italia, with just a few months to go before the general election, is the focus of the second day of the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio. At 8.45 am, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, will speak. At 9.45 am, Jordan Bardella, President of the Rassemblement National, will speak. At 10.15 am, there will be a session entitled ‘The European project between integration and sovereignty: the Italian perspective’, a debate featuring Fnv leader Roberto Vannacci and life senator Mario Monti.

A pro-European rebuke to the business elite: the Cernobbio Forum, which has always served as a barometer for gauging the mood of Italia’s power elite. A necessary call to action from the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, who highlights just how damaging new forms of ‘predatory colonialism’ are to the global economy. In his message, the Head of State emphasises that the EU’s successes are ‘indisputable and, for this reason, sometimes envied and opposed’. All the more reason, he says, for Europe to be ‘strengthened’ now. This is a responsibility that also falls on businesses, given that the global economy itself is ‘at risk’.