EU/4 The parliamentarians

Each year, Italy pays approximately 12/13 billion Euro over to the EU. These billions land up in a communal fund, which is then shared out in favour of the developing areas. What we get back amounts to about 8/9 billion. Where do these funds go? Almost entirely to three Regions, namely, Campania, Calabria and Sicily. European funds, which consist of monies originally paid from our taxes, therefore, take a trip via Rome-Brussels-Naples (or Palermo, or Catanzaro). A one-way trip with no political accountability required from even one of the Republic’s Ministers. In fact, the decisions are made in Brussels and bear the signature of some unknown official.
The regions of the South have managed to achieve some development, thanks to the European Community policies and the tens of billions of Euro received over time. The organised crime syndicates and political lobbying groups have evolved into veritable integrated multinational companies.
But what happens to the 4/5 billion Euro difference, which is not returned to Italy? These go to “poor” nations, normally the new entrants into the EU. Such as Romania for example, which will receive 28/30 billion Euro in development funding between 2007 and 2013. And who contributes to that country’s development? The fearless Italian businessmen! Italy currently has 22,000 companies operating in Romania, and is that country’s top business partner. Any Italian company establishing itself in Rumania undoubtedly has certain advantages, such as low labour costs, favourable tax rates and access to European financing. Then, perhaps, the product is resold as “Made in Italy”, earning more than it would have previously. Romanian Premier Calin Tariceanu explained that Europe should not fear any uncontrolled influx of people from his Country, because “Romania has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the whole of Europe” (see interview). Our whole world has been turned upside down. Those remaining in Italy are lambasted, are obliged to pay their taxes in advance and do not have access to any State funding. So he/she moves to Romania. Taking Italian money with him/her. That money left over from the charity handed out to our Southern Regions by the new Southern Bank that we now call the EU.
Posted by Beppe Grillo at 11:37 PM in Politics
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Comments
There is no doubt that Africa has many problems. However, this does not make the continent irrelevant because many of the world most precious resources are still in this continent. The USA, China, UK and most of all Spain that just in recent decades joined the EU understand that. I'm Angolan and while Italy have been ignoring Angola, the second oil producing country, Spain is increasing its role, overtaking even Portugal, the colonial power. Thus, as someone who lived in Italy and love this country, I would like to challenge Italians invest in Africa just like Spain is doing nowadays.
Posted by: Dalena | December 20, 2007 01:43 AM
To say that poorer countries such as Romania will at one time overrule Italy or Austria is stupid nonsense (and let's not forget that Austria ruled for many centuries over big parts of Romania.) Yes, there is plenty of aid going to poor EU countries. But this will not last forever. Look, Western Europe did have the Marshall Plan, and then it helped countries such as Spain which are now net contributors to the EU budget. But of course, it's easier to blame the foreigners...
Posted by: Don Ciccio | December 13, 2007 03:48 PM
It's natural this emigration of companies. Anybody looks to pay less. Why to stay. To please unions?
Posted by: jaio | December 12, 2007 02:07 PM
The rumenian president thinks everybody is an idiot.
Or maybe we all are because looks like nobody clashed with what he said.
By the way: what you expect from a nation with a lot of gypsies? A Gypsy president who would steal your wallet whenever you walk past him.
Posted by: Giovanni Principe | December 11, 2007 02:11 PM
Hello everyone,
Time to grow up Italy, tabloid journalism and supermarket garbage journalism is clearly not working (Scoops may work in a Country where the Justice System works definitely not in Italy!).
Reality is, newspapers all over this Country are trashing out scandals and scoops on the daily basis just to sell worthless Journalism.
Who sleeps with whom, who goes to dinner with whom, who buys the house from where, who works and who doesn’t?
Now in Sweden or Denmark or even the US (If something is against the law!) could be considered a scoop, rest assure the Justice System would spring into action.
But in Italy? Sorry it doesn’t work!
In Italy scoops and garbage Journalism is the latest marketing tool, to swing public opinion one way or the other, while for the theoretical culprit, there are no penalties.
The Justice System doesn’t work, and even when it works 10 years will go by and with all the escape routes appositely build into the system, they will live happily ever after.
Grow up, take your responsibilities, make cognizant decision and stop complaining for what they are doing to you and your life, you sent these Incompetent Incapable Indecent Ignorant Individuals up there (IIIII your truly!).
The future looks brighter by the minutes wear dark shades.
Thanks
Posted by: Giacomo Chiametti | December 8, 2007 05:03 PM
LA CHINA IN DISCESA DEGLI ULTIMI 20 ANNI
Nelle amministrazioni publiche, per decenni, le posizioni di livello elevato sono spesso state assegnate per cooptazione, per non dire comparaggio.
Una delle abitudini prese (collegate all’andazzo su menzionato) é stata: i funzionari pubblici non hanno più l’obbligo di svolgere il proprio ruolo con impegno, non sono punibili in caso di mancanze. Il che potrebbe esser ritenuto comprensibile, se si pensa che in un’azienda statale entrano VIP in posizioni di potere, sponsorizzati ad es., da quattro partiti e sette correnti. Visto che le referenze ai varii clans non sono di dominio pubblico, non si sa mai, meglio ...... non sfruculiare il can che dorme. L’omertà e l’impunità regnano ormai sovrane. I VIPs del pubblico, sponsorizzati da clans politici o non, perdono interesse al loro proprio ruolo. Spendono anzi parte del loro impegno e interesse a: a) faccende private; b) manovre di corridoio per acquisire maggior potere.
Conseguenze: per i dipendenti pubblici é stata praticamente dimenticata la selezione per merito. In qualche settore, negli anni é successa una cosa naturale, ove non c’é più merito. I peggiori (i più smaliziati, furbi e scorretti) hanno preso le posizioni più alte. Cio’ ha loro permesso di diffondere dall’alto disonestà e menefreghismo totale. L’esempio, in un Paese ove i cittadini sono flessibili e adattabili, puo’ determinare rovinosi cambiamenti. Si tratta del motivo primario per cui l’Italia, eccezione della U.E., ha visto il crimine diffondersi velocemente in tutte le strutture dello stato.
Tale fenomeno, esteso a macchia d’olio, ha prodotto in due decenni: la inaffidabilità, talvolta il quasi bloccaggio delle strutture e funzioni dello stato.
La estensione a macchia d’olio delle inefficienze, della omertà e della corruzione in parecchi organi dello stato ha avuto negli ultimi due lustri delle conseguenze pesanti anche sul settore privato, il quale é soggetto alla competizione con Paesi ove, invece, lo stato funziona colla stessa efficienza e correttezza di un sistema privato. C’é visibilmente di peggio, osservando dall’estero. Poiché questo fenomeno di degradazione é continuato in molte regioni ed a lungo, esso ha influito, almeno in alcune regioni, sul peggioramento della società in cui gli imprenditori operano. In altri termini, l’affidabilità di persone e enti é andata peggiorando, con una conseguenza pratica: ormai, in molti settori, si vive alla giornata. Fare programmi é difficile, se si fanno non potranno sempre essere rispettati.
Risultato finale. Attualmente non esistono le condizioni che permetterebbero al settore pubblico di funzionare come negli altri Paesi della U.E., né esiste la volontà di cercare tali condizioni in modo serio ed efficiente. Di conseguenza, gli imprenditori non potranno, nelle condizioni attuali, sperare in sostanziali miglioramenti di competitività.
Le prospettive dell’economia ? coerenti con tale situazione !
Antonio Greco
ANGREMA@wanadoo.fr
Posted by: Antonio Greco | December 8, 2007 04:55 PM
Hi Beppe, I am a big fan of yours since I saw several stories about you on the Austrian TV. I think it's the same thing in many countrys: We pay for the "poorer" ones like Romania but some day they will overrule us ...
Posted by: martin huber | December 8, 2007 01:47 PM