Italy's populist government wants to "shake things up" in Europe, Italy's premier said on Monday ahead of an address to members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
"Some people say we wanted to challenge the EU, I say we actually want to give it a shake to revive it,” Conte said in an interview with Politico's European edition.
“It's during moments of crisis that one must give things a shake, get back on one’s feet and restart,” Conte said.
Spats with Brussels and with France have not damaged Italy's standing in Europe, however according to Conte, a non-partisan law professor and political novice.
"Being anti-establishment and pursuing change doesn't mean being anti-EU. On the contrary, because we do care about Europe, we want it to become a Europe of the people, closer to the needs of the people,” he said.
Italy is not “isolated" but keeps expressing its opinions even when what it had to say is "uncomfortable,” Conte said, adding that he will tell Euro-MPs on Tuesday that a new approach on immigration and the EU’s economic and fiscal governance is needed.
“It's during moments of crisis that one must give things a shake, get back on one’s feet and restart,” Conte stated.
