Italy lauds Berlusconi's EU deal

Italian newspapers spanning the political spectrum have heaped praise on Berlusconi

ROME, Italy -- Silvio Berlusconi's minor but significant victory in his first international outing as both Italy's foreign and prime minister has received domestic praise.

Berlusconi got his way on Monday in his battle to send two Italians to a key forum on the future of the European Union.

He persuaded the EU to accept his right-wing ally Gianfranco Fini, leader of the post-fascist National Alliance, as the Italian government representative at the convention.

The move was agreed despite centre-left former prime minister Giuliano Amato being one of two body's two vice-presidents.

The decision gave Italy one more representative than most other countries on the European Convention, which, along with disquiet about Fini's political past, had raised EU concerns.

On Tuesday, the Italian media hailed Berlusconi's foray into foreign affairs.

"The victory of Brussels," trumpeted the conservative Il Giornale newspaper on its front page.

The newspaper, which is owned by Berlusconi's brother, quoted Berlusconi as saying he had never had any doubts about Fini's nomination.

But there was praise too from the left-leaning La Repubblica. It said Italy had won the representation it deserved on a body that could play a crucial role in shaping Europe's future.

"Italy has won this little battle... for two reasons," the paper said in an editorial.

"First, because it had right on its side...and secondly because of Giuliano Amato's diplomatic skills, backed up ably by the prime minister."

The centrist daily La Stampa said Berlusconi had behaved with "aplomb" alongside his foreign ministerial colleagues.

"Berlusconi didn't have the air of someone who would surrender...he appeared convinced that he had a few arrows left in his quiver still to shoot," the paper said.

Berlusconi, a billionaire media mogul, took over the Foreign Ministry three weeks ago after the resignation of Renato Ruggiero, former head of the World Trade Organisation.

Ruggiero, a respected and dedicated Europhile, resigned after a spat with cabinet colleagues over their criticism of the new euro currency.

His departure prompted fears that Italy could be about to set off on a new, euro-sceptical course.

But Berlusconi, who has said he expects to carry on as foreign minister until at least mid-March, has been at pains to play down that line, saying instead that he merely wanted Italy to have a stronger, more assertive voice in EU affairs.

Italy takes over the rotating six-month presidency of the EU in the middle of next year and Berlusconi is keen to ensure that landmark decisions are taken during that time.

Berlusconi's bid to have both Fini and Amato in the convention had drawn criticism from Germany and some other north European countries which argued that EU member states could only have one government representative.

Berlusconi challenged this by saying Amato had been chosen by EU leaders and would play an impartial role above the fray, so Italy had the right to appoint a man who would represent the government line in the Convention, which opens on March 1.