(ANSA) - Brussels, January 15 - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday hit back a criticism of the EU executive from Italian Premier Matteo Renzi. "I think that the Italian prime minister, whom I love very much, is wrong to offend the Commission at every opportunity, I don't see why he does it," he said. "In truth, Italy should not criticise it too much. We have introduced (budget) flexibility against the will of member States who some say dominate Europe". Juncker admitted that relations between the EC and Italy were not going well at the moment. "I'll probably go to Italy at the end of February because the atmosphere between Italy and the Commission is not the best," Juncker said. "Renzi always complains that I have not been to Italy since I became president".

Renzi has frequently criticised the European Union, saying it is too focused on budget austerity and dominated by bureaucrats and does not give enough importance to promoting growth and employment.

Rome also reacted angrily when the Commission opened infringement proceedings last year against Italy for failing to respect the rules on taking the finger prints of asylum seekers.

Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan on Friday said Italy's criticism of the European Commission was meant as constructive and not offensive. "There is no intent to offend on the part of the Italian government, but a constructive attitude," Padoan said.

"(The relationship between the EU and Italy is a) relationship between the government of one of the main countries in the EU that is addressing the (European) Commission in an open and frank way, bearing in mind that we want to reinforce the EU but at the same time that we have rights on a par with those of others and we mean to make ourselves heard".

Federica Mogherini, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, said Friday that creating division within the block was senseless, when asked to comment on Juncker's attack. "It's stupid to create divisions within Europe," said Mogherini, who served as Italian foreign minister under Renzi before being nominated to her current post. "The Europeans need to be united when faced with the many crises that exist," she told reporters during a visit to the Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome. "Italy needs Europe like Europe needs Italy".

Mogherini stressed that both Italy and the European Commission had wanted to introduce greater scope for flexibility in the EU's budget rules after Juncker argued that he had passed the changes, not Renzi. "There are lots of things that Italy and Europe have done together in the first year of the Juncker Commission," Mogherini said. "(These go) from the introduction of the rules on flexibility, which Italy very much wanted and which the European Commission very much wanted and which benefit everyone, to the great challenges at the European level on the management of immigration".

Juncker also warned Friday that if the Schengen agreement on the free movement of people collapses due to security concerns, the euro may end too. "No one talks about the link between Schengen and the free circulation of capital," Juncker said. "The end of Schengen would threaten to end the economic and monetary union and the problem of unemployment would become even more significant. It's necessary to look at things as a whole". He stressed that border controls are costly, saying those between Sweden and Denmark cost 300 million euros and those between Germany and Denmark cost 90 million. He went on to lambast the EU member States for the frequent divisions shown, mentioning issues such as the refugee crisis, terrorism, the Ukraine conflict and relations with Russia. "I'm struck by the fragility of the EU and the rifts that have occurred or are already announced," he said in his start-of-year news conference.