Italian PM causes outrage over 'Nazi' jibe

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi assumed the EU presidency today and immediately caused outrage by telling a German MEP that he would be "perfect" as a Nazi concentration camp commander.

The object of the jibe was Martin Schultz, who drew the ire of the Italian premier by questioning whether Mr Berlusconi considered his ownership of much of Italy's media to be at odds with his political position as head of the Italian government.

Mr Berlusconi reportedly replied: "Mr Schulz, I know there is in Italy a man producing a film on the Nazi concentration camps. I would like to suggest you for the role of leader. You'd be perfect."

Mr Schultz reportedly responded: "My respect for the victims of fascism will not permit me to deal with that kind of claim at all.

"It is very difficult for me to accept that a council president [Mr Berlusconi] should be exercising this office at all when he comes out with this kind of statement."

Mr Berlusconi, who is Italy's richest man and owner of AC Milan football club, has been under pressure at home and had been the subject of a corruption trial. However, the Italian parliament granted him immunity from prosecution whilst he was in office – which he will be until 2006.

Mr Berlusconi's speech was much less controversial, and he said that it was a great honour for Italy to take over the six-month presidency as Europe was now "in the process of modernising and growing economically".

On the EU economy, he stressed that Europe's growth rates were too low, and one of his priorities would be to give greater support for Trans-European transport networks through increased public and private investment – in particular from the European Investment Bank.

Working on the sustainability of Europe's welfare systems, and the stability and security of the EU would also be priorities, he said.

(GMcG)