About: Matteo Salvini
China’s new Silk Road gets bumpy as Xi visits Italy
Chinese President Xi Jinping kicks off a whistlestop European tour in Rome on Friday (22 March) amid growing Western unease over Italy joining the ever-expanding Asian giant's new Silk Road project.
Italy’s Senate shields Salvini from trial over Diciotti case
Italy's Senate voted Wednesday (20 March) to block the trial of far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for allegedly illegally confining migrants rescued at sea by an Italian coastguard ship last year.
NGO ship defies Salvini, takes migrants to Lampedusa
An Italian charity ship was escorted into the port of Lampedusa by police on Tuesday (19 March) after rescuing 49 Africans in the Mediterranean, with Interior Minister Matteo Salvini calling for the crew to be arrested.
Farage to lobby EU countries in search of Brexit extension veto
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage said on Wednesday (13 March) he will lobby EU countries to make sure one of them vetoes a possible extension of Article 50 past the 29 March deadline.
Commission pursues ‘bilateral and multilateral cooperation’ with China as MEPs express deep concern
The European Commission has set out a series of concrete actions to "deepen its engagement with China to promote common interests," the bloc's top officials said on Tuesday (12 March). However, MEPs voiced concerns over "embedded backdoors" in Chinese tech that may put personal data in the EU at risk.
Eritrea: an open-air prison, EU indifferent
Despite the dire situation on the ground in Eritrea, EU countries and the European Union as a whole look the other way. Benoit Lannoo explains why
No agreement on asylum possible before EU elections, EU member states admit
EU interior minister on Thursday (7 March) failed to conclude the overhaul of the EU’s migration policy. This means that under the Juncker Commission no further progress could be expected on a dossier expected to take center stage at the European elections.
Critical mass building for motion to expel Orbán from EPP
A critical mass is likely to be reached within days to put the expulsion of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party from the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) to a vote. The decision could be taken ahead of a crucial meeting on 20 March.
Italy’s far-right hopes to form new broad Conservative alliance in Europe
Italy’s far-right party Fratelli d’Italia has joined the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE), with the aim of forming a broad right-wing alliance in the next European Parliament following the EU elections in May.
Sheep milk prices cause Salvini headache, Italy’s agri-boss meets Hogan
Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini has tried to placate Sardinian farmers ahead of regional elections this week, sending Italy's agriculture minister to Brussels to get the green light to introduce support measures that set a fixed price for sheep milk.
Italy’s 5-Star tries to undermine tunnel to France
Italy’s transport ministry insisted on Tuesday (12 February) that a planned railway tunnel underneath the Alps to France would be a waste of money, in what could ratchet up tensions between Rome and Paris.
The Brief – Tajani’s blunder
A Twitter clash has broken out between Slovenian Commissioner Violeta Bulc and European Parliament President Antonio Tajani over the latter's involvement, together with Lega leader Matteo Salvini, in a commemoration perceived as a fascist gathering.
Slovenia accuses Tajani, Salvini of World War II revisionism
Slovenia accused European Parliament president Antonio Tajani and Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini of historical revisionism Monday (11 February) over statements they made at a ceremony commemorating Italian victims of World War II massacres.
Italy’s populist leaders pledge to replace central bank’s top brass
Italy's populist leaders on Saturday (9 February) promised to replace top officials at the country's central bank, who they said must pay for failing to prevent a spate of banking scandals in which thousands lost their savings.
France says ‘unacceptable’ that Italy’s Di Maio met ‘yellow vests’
The French foreign ministry on Wednesday (6 February) denounced as "unacceptable" a meeting between Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio and France's "yellow vest" anti-government protesters.
Enrico Letta: Are pro-EU forces ready for the anti-EU’s main election theme?
Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said on Monday (28 January) that EU politicians should be prepared to address the issue of migration, as anti-EU forces are set to make it their number one item in the upcoming elections.
Macron says ‘won’t respond’ to populist Italian leaders
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday (27 January) that he will not respond to criticism by populist Italian leaders Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini because their words are of "no interest".
Despite storms, Salvini warns NGO rescue ship not to approach
Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Thursday (24 January) insisted the country's ports were closed to migrants, as a ship carrying 47 people rescued at sea headed for Sicily in deteriorating weather.
France summons Italian envoy over Di Maio Africa comments
France has summoned Italy's ambassador to protest against comments by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, who accused Paris of continuing to colonise Africa and causing people to migrate from the continent, a government source told AFP.
Italy’s black MEP victim of repeated racist jibes fears ‘institutional’ racism
Politics consistently keeps overlooking racial issues and this may lead to 'institutional' racism, a former Italian minister and current socialist MEP, who has been the victim of racial abuse, told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Berlusconi books ticket to Brussels
Silvio Berlusconi will stand as an MEP in the upcoming EU elections, the former Italian prime minister announced on Thursday (17 January).
Orban puts hopes in new anti-migration European Parliament
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Thursday (10 January) said he hoped the next European Parliament will be dominated by anti-immigration forces. He also criticised France and Germany in blunt terms, saying he "must fight" French President Emmanuel Macron.
Salvini calls for ‘Italian-Polish axis’ to replace Paris-Berlin
Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday (9 January) said populists from Italy and Poland should spark a "European spring" to replace the centre-right influence of Germany and France, ahead of key EU elections.