Italy must not be France and Germany's "jealous cousin" but should aim to play a leading role in Europe too by coming up with its own "proposals and ideas", premier Paolo Gentiloni said on Wednesday.
"The relationship between France and Germany is connected to the way in which World War II ended and the European Union was born," Gentiloni told public broadcaster Rai's 'Uno Mattina' talkshow.
"Italy has always been a major player (in Europe)," Gentiloni said.
"It must not play the jealous cousin but be a protagonist by putting forward its proposals and ideas," he said.
"Italy must have the intelligence to have confidence in its relations with France and Germany," Gentiloni stressed.
