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Rome-Brussels Row Deepens With Italy Unrepresented in Juncker's Cabinet

© Flickr / Oliver TownendRome-Brussels Row Deepens
Rome-Brussels Row Deepens - Sputnik International
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A fresh row has opened up between the EU and Italy, after the country's sole representative in European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's cabinet resigned, allegedly over a dispute that saw some of his powers transferred to another member of staff.

Legal expert Carlo Zadra resigned from his post in Juncker's EC cabinet, with reports in Italian media suggesting that the resignation stemmed from a falling out between the Italian and the cabinet's chief of staff, German Martin Selmayr, who had recently transferred some of Zadra's responsibilities on migration to Briton Michael Shotter.

European Affairs Undersecretary Sandro Gozi was quick to weigh into the decision, saying it was "unacceptable" for Rome not have a representative in Juncker's team and urged the European Commission to replace him with another Italian.

"Starting 2016 without an Italian certainly doesn't facilitate relations with Italy," Gozi said, adding that Zadra is an "excellent servant."

​Gozi, who is a member of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party, said it is "essential that a member of Italian nationality" holds a position in Juncker's cabinet, noting that he had already made this request to cabinet chief of staff Martin Selmayr.

While noting that Mr Juncker had "no legal obligation" on staff quotas in his cabinet, it would be advised to introduce an Italian into his staff as a matter of "political expediency."

The developments leave Italy without a say on EU migration in Juncker's team, despite the country being at the centre of the refugee crisis. Italy received more than 150,000 arrivals by sea in 2015 — second in the EU behind Greece.

Fallout Widens

The fallout comes at a time of heightened tensions between Rome and other EU officials, with Italian PM Renzi clashing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during an EU leaders' summit in December.

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Renzi accused Merkel of reneging on a plan to develop a Eurozone deposit guarantee system, with the criticism highlighting months of tensions between Rome and Berlin.

​The Italian has been openly critical of the EU's economic agenda in recent times, arguing that the German-driven emphasis on austerity has been counterproductive and has led to a surge in support of radical political movements such as the Front National in France.

He also accused Germany of profiting from the euro crisis, noting that German airport operator Fraport had made efforts to buy airports in Greece after Greek leader Alexis Tsipras was urged by Germany to privatize them.

"You cannot say that you are giving your blood to Europe," he allegedly told Merkel during the summit.

Merkel isn't the only senior EU official to have drawn criticism from Renzi, with the Italian leader coming to blows with European Council President Donald Tusk, European Parliament President Martin Schulz and EU President Juncker over the past six months.

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