‘I am concerned about countries which, fundamentally speaking, are simply virtually ungovernable: Bulgaria, Romania, Italy’, said European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, German ‘Bild’ daily reports quoting excerpts of the speech given by the German Christian-Democratic politician during a meeting organised by the Germany-Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The EU official rings an alarm bell – the large circulation German daily notes – Oettinger warning that too many people in Europe think things are all right while, in reality, the Union is a textbook case of institution that must go through radical restructuring. Even in Brussels – the EU commissioner adds in his address – ‘the true size of the problems has not been identified’. Instead of dealing with its own crisis, the Union has behaved like a charity towards the rest of the world,’ Oettinger further noted.

Apart from the three ungovernable EU member states the energy commissioner named, according to the quoted daily the official also voiced concerns about the precarious economic situation in France, country with ‘zero preparedness’ for the reforms it must implement – but also about growing euro-sceptical manifestations in countries such as Great Britain.

As far as Germany is concerned, the Christian Democrat says it has reached the peak and has no more resources left for growth.

In a later move, the German government denies any reference made to Italy, without retracting statements regarding Bulgaria and Romania, Mediafax informs. “You will never hear such statements regarding Italy from the German government,” said Steffen Seibert, spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to ‘Il sole 24 Ore’, quoted by Mediafax. However, the Italian media is waiting for Oettinger to retract his statements or to resign as European Commissioner for Energy, the same source is pointing out.

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