Italian government 'in chaos' over question of Ukraine EU membership

 ROME -- A division has emerged in recent days within Italy's coalition government over Ukraine's candidature for EU membership, with Meloni's Fratelli D'Italia and Tajani's Forza Italia in favour and Salvini's Lega against. 

 Ukraine’s potential candidature has caused chaos in the Italian government, and in the wider political landscape, with parties from all over the political spectrum for and against Ukraine joining the EU.

 Two-thirds of the parties making up the Italian government, Fratelli D’Italia and Forza Italia, are in favour of Ukraine in the EU. Speaking at an informal EU summit in Cyprus, Italian Foreign Minister and leader of Forza Italia, Antonio Tajani, said that Italy is “In favour of launching a process that brings Ukraine into the European Union” and Italy is “ready to do its part to help”, but added that there “are other candidate countries” that should not be forgotten about.

 However, this has been met with opposition. One-third of the government coalition, Lega, led by Matteo Salvini, have said they are “absolutely opposed” to Ukraine joining the EU. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Lega said “Kiev’s entry into the EU would cause economic and social damage of enormous proportions.”

Fratelli D’Italia (Fdi) are trying to mediate and find the middle ground between Tajani and Salvini. On Friday, the Fdi’s national coordinator, Giovanni Donzelli, said that “support for Ukraine is fundamental”, however “without peace being achieved [Ukraine’s entry to the EU] would mean extending the war to all of Europe due to European regulations.”

 He added that “until peace is achieved, Salvini’s position is understandable. Once peace is achieved […] Tajani’s position is also quite understandable.” Donzelli emphasised that the divergence in views by the three coalition parties was to be expected, as they belong to three different “families” within the EU.

 Some parties have taken this opportunity to criticise the Italian government and highlight the coalition’s division. Italia Viva spokesperson Ivan Scalfaratto said “the Italian government is in chaos”, labelling Donzelli’s “attempt to reconcile the irreconcilable” as “frankly ridiculous.”  Europa Verde spokesperson, Angelo Bonelli, called the division a “sesnational split.”

 It has not only been the centre-right who have split over the Ukraine polemic. The main opposition party and part of the centre-left coalition, the Democratic Party (Pd), are also for Ukraine’s membership, however on the condition of “a just and lasting peace, with clear security guarantees and the adoption of internal reforms.” In the same statement released on Friday, Giuseppe Provenzano, the Pd’s head of foreign affairs, said that while these are “necessary conditions” for accession, they “cannot become excuses to block the start of the process.”

 Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Movimento 5 Stelle, has also come out in opposition to Kiev’s membership. In a statement to the press, Conte said “Ukraine cannot join Europe now, the conditions are not right.” He added that the EU is currently having its own problems and should review its own framework and functioning before admitting any other countries into the union.

 While there is division in government and across the political spectrum, most parties seem to be aligned in supporting Ukraine against Russia and bringing peace to the country before EU accession happens.

 khg