"We must prepare, but it is absolutely not a war economy. I have seen exaggerated alarms. Preparing does not mean that this should happen, otherwise we would already be in a rationing phase".
So premier Mario Draghi, at a press conference on the second day of the Versailles summit.
EU leaders discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on the European economy and how to make it stronger, with two focuses: how to increase defense spending and how to achieve energy independence from Russian hydrocarbons by 2027.
"We must reorient our sources of supply - continued Draghi - and this means building new commercial relations". "In the long run, replacing fossil fuels with renewables is the only way, but much more needs to be done now to increase investment" in this area. The Commission has promised it will help Member States in every possible way. "
"If the economy were to weaken - added the premier - a budgetary policy response will be needed, which cannot be national budgets, but must be a European response".
"Our performance was exceptional - he later specified about Italy - we enter with a very high growth acquisition and we are able to face a slowdown, even temporary, of the economy". Then the clarification for which the premier reiterated that he "did not foresee" risks for the Italian debt from the confirmation of the tightening confirmed yesterday by the Eurotower.
On the subject of security, Draghi first of all reassured about the fears of a possible widening of the war. "I do not see the risk - he explained - our allies have also said." "The heavier the sanctions, the lower the risk of a widening of the conflict", he specified.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, at the end of the summit, said that “further sanctions cannot be ruled out. If things continue like this on the military level, we will take further measures ”.
(Unioneonline / vl)
