(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 20 - Italy will have a leadership position on the new European Commission with Raffaele Fitto as executive vice president with the cohesion brief, European People's Party (EPP) leader Manfred Weber said after a deal was clinched on the new commission Wednesday.
    "We have found a balanced approach," he said after the EPP dropped its veto on Spanish Deputy Premier Teresa Ribera after the Valencia floods and the Socialists dropped their veto on Fitto after his Brothers of Italy (FdI) party of Premier Giorgia Meloni voted against confirming Ursula von der Leyen as EC chair.
    "The most important thing," Weber said, "is to have a Commission in office on December 1st and to have stability in Europe.
    "Socialists, EPP and Liberals (Renew) will have the opportunity to have a strong influence in the next Commission and Italy must also be part of the leadership of the next Commission".
    photo: Weber with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (ANSA).