EU may drift apart, warns Italy premier

BERLIN - Agence France-Presse

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has voiced fears that tensions sparked by the eurozone crisis have already turned countries against each other and must not be allowed to rip Europe apart.

Asked about resentment in Italy towards Germany and complaints of German arrogance in its handling of the debt crisis, Monti told Monday’s edition of the German news magazine Der Spiegel that he was “concerned”.

He said he had talked about growing resentment in Italy not only towards Germany and at times Chancellor Angela Merkel but also towards the EU and the euro, with Merkel herself, according to an advance copy of Der Spiegel.

But he said the problem went far beyond the relationship between Germany and Italy.

“The pressures, which have accompanied the eurozone in recent years, already bear the traits of a psychological breakup of Europe,” Monti said. “We must work hard to contain it.” And he warned that if the euro became a reason for Europe to drift apart, “the foundations of the European project” would be destroyed.