(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 8 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday said
"we know what we need to do, now the point is whether we want to
give member states the necessary resources - this is the real
debate and I don't know whether concrete solutions will be
reached this morning, but it is the central element", arriving
at an informal European Council meeting in Budapest.
Speaking about Tuesday's presidential election in the United
States, Meloni said that Europe should take stock and evaluate
itself.
"I think Europe should find a solution and evaluate itself.
"It looks like we are discovering issues today, I am thinking
about competitiveness, tariffs.
"However, I remember that the debate on European competitiveness
is a debate that started months ago in the wake of the Inflation
Reduction Act.
"If we wanted to say this quoting American presidents - ask not
what the United States can do for you, ask what Europe can do
for itself, which is this morning's debate", said Meloni.
The US measure last year sparked concern in Europe that it could
shift investments to the United States, threatening EU
competitiveness.
The European Commission responded in February 2023 with its
Green Deal Industrial Plan to the US Inflation Reduction Act
(IRA), with increased levels of state aid to help Europe compete
as a manufacturing hub for clean tech products. (ANSA).