The cover of this week’s Spectator says “the people vs the EU” and Jean-Claude Juncker is certainly warming to that theme. Just in case the Italians were in any doubt how they are regarded by the president of the European Commission he made it pretty clear yesterday. When asked what the EU could do for Italy, he said that the problem was not the EU’s because it was down to Italians to help the South of Italy – and these Italians, he said, need “more work, less corruption, seriousness”. And no, he wasn’t talking about the government but the actual Italian people. Easier to look down on such people when you’re not elected.
UPDATE After protests from Antonio Tajani, an Italian who is president of the European Parliament, Juncker’s officials has been claiming via Twitter that his words were taken out of context.
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