Italy wants to boost the role of the European Parliament within the European Union and to play "a leading role" in achieving this goal, Italy's populist premier Giuseppe Conte said on Friday.
"Italy wants to further enhance the role of the parliament within the European Union," Conte told reporters ahead of talks in Rome with European Commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen.
The newly elected parliament has excellent prospects," Conte underlined.
"We are ready to play a leading role," he said.
Italy, one of Europe's largest economies, has the same priorities as the EU, of which it is a founder member, Conte said.
"Europe will gain...it will find itself on the same page when working with Italy," Conte stated.
Italy has 73 members in the 751-seat European Parliament elected on 26 May including its president ,David Sassoli, and will acquire three more when Britain leaves the European Union.
