The Political and Security Committee
of the European Union has approved the nomination of former
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio as the EU Special
Representative for the Gulf, ANSA learned on Thursday.
The ambassadors of the 27 EU member states on the committee
reportedly approved the proposal made by EU High Representative
Josep Borrell last week without discussion.
The decision must now be ratified by the European Council.
In the event of a positive outcome, the 36-year-old former Five
Star Movement (M5S) leader will take up the position on June 1.
In Italy Borrell's proposal of Di Maio met mixed reactions, with
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani of the
centre-right Forza Italia party describing it as a "legitimate
choice", but saying that Di Maio "is not the candidate of the
Italian government".
Di Maio's name was put forward last year by former Italian
premier
Mario Draghi, under whom he served.
Other politicians on the right and centre also weighed in on the
proposal, with some hailing the choice as "good news" and others
describing it as "an insult" to Italy.
"If Europe chooses an Italian as its special envoy, it is
certainly good news for the country as a whole, unless we want
to once again export our petty quarrels to the EU level," said
Senator and former Lower House Speaker Pier Ferdinando Casini.
"Good luck to Luigi Di Maio with his work," said Ettore Rosato
of the centrist formation Action-IV.
"Having an Italian there is always good news for our country,"
he added.
Former foreign minister and Lower House Speaker Gianfranco Fini
said he was "delighted".
"I hope he is up to such a difficult task, it will be
interesting to see how he will carry out the mandate," said Fini
during current affairs talk show 'Mezz'ora in piu' ' on Rai 3.
However centre-right Forza Italia Senator Maurizio Gasparri
described the choice as "absurd and shameful".
"It discredits the proponents and the European Union itself," he
added.
"Di Maio is totally inadequate. The mere fact of considering him
casts ridicule on those that do so. Enough of these incapable
armchair grabbers," Gasparri said.
In a statement, right-wing League Senators said the decision to
indicate Di Maio was "politically outrageous".
It is an "affront to the will of Italians who expressed
themselves clearly last September 25 by choosing the
center-right" in general elections.
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