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Silvio Berlusconi - the European Commission was unusually blunt in its assessment of his handling of the Italian economy (Photo: ec.europa.eu)

Rehn under fire over Berlusconi remarks

EU economic affairs commissioner Olli Rehn is at the centre of a political row after blaming Italy's former prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, for the country's financial crisis.

In an unusually blunt statement in the European Parliament on Tuesday (29 January), Rehn cited Italy's troubles in autumn 2011 as an example of how market pressure built up on heavily indebted eurozone economies.

He said Berlusconi had made "some promises of fiscal consolidation" as a result of which the...

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Author Bio

Benjamin Fox is a seasoned reporter and editor, previously working for fellow Brussels publication Euractiv. His reporting has also been published in the Guardian, the East African, Euractiv, Private Eye and Africa Confidential, among others. He heads up the AU-EU section at EUobserver, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Silvio Berlusconi - the European Commission was unusually blunt in its assessment of his handling of the Italian economy (Photo: ec.europa.eu)

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Author Bio

Benjamin Fox is a seasoned reporter and editor, previously working for fellow Brussels publication Euractiv. His reporting has also been published in the Guardian, the East African, Euractiv, Private Eye and Africa Confidential, among others. He heads up the AU-EU section at EUobserver, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

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