Italy under pressure over Europe

Berlusconi (left) has taken over the role of foreign minister vacated by Ruggiero

ROME, Italy -- European Union leaders have expressed dismay at the departure of Italy's pro-European foreign minister amid fears of growing friction with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing government.

Berlusconi appointed himself the country's interim foreign minister after Renato Ruggiero resigned as foreign minister late on Saturday.

French Finance Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday that Berlusconi needed to confirm Italy's commitment to the European Union.

"Italy is one of the pillars of Europe and one could be quite worried," Fabius said in a radio interview. "So I think there is a need for a clarification at the level of the heads of government."

A non-partisan former head of the World Trade Organization, Ruggiero, 71, was seen by many observers as the respectable international face of Berlusconi's coalition.

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In an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper, Berlusconi said he expected to retain the new post at least until June. He said nothing would change in Italy's pro-Europe position.

"We are firmly convinced that the future of our country lies in a Europe that is stronger and knows how to speak with one voice and knows how to follow up economic integration with political integration, with a new constitution," he said.

A European constitution was "indispensable for (European Union) enlargement to the east and its own foreign policy and security policy."

He said that the next foreign minister would be a politician rather than a "technocrat" like the unelected Ruggiero.

Berlusconi said he and his foreign minister had to go their separate ways because Ruggiero had voiced consistent doubts over the government's commitment to Europe.

"It was no longer possible for us to go forward like this, with us being forced to have our Europeanism tested every day," he said.

Berlusconi's appointment sparked calls by opposition politicians for an emergency parliamentary debate.

Piero Fassino, the head of the largest opposition party, the Democrats of the Left, said: "We call on the prime minister to go to parliament at once and take stock of the most severe crisis that Italy has ever had regarding its relations with Europe."

CNN's European Political Editor, Robin Oakley, said: "There is a real worry about Silvio Berlusconi's touch, and about the degree of his commitment to Europe."

Ruggiero had commanded respect in European capitals because of his experience as a diplomat and as president of the WTO.

Observers say he also balanced out more centre-right ministers in the cabinet -- among them Reforms Minister Umberto Bossi, who has been sceptical of greater European integration.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer telephoned Ruggiero on Sunday to express regret at his departure and praised him as a "convinced European and a good friend of Germany."

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine called him "a great European who enjoyed a very strong reputation across Europe."

Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said: "I do not know exactly what Prime Minister Berlusconi's commitment toward Europe is, but I do know that some members of his coalition stand up against Europe on a regular basis and blame Europe for lots of things that are not justified.

"I think he will continue to face difficulties with that kind of a coalition."