Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is putting pressure on the EU Commission for an early yes to Lufthansa’s entry into the previously state-owned airline Ita Airways.
“It is strange that the EU Commission is blocking the solution to the Ita problem,” said the ultra-right head of government on Sunday after the G20 summit of the major industrialized and emerging countries in New Delhi.
In a first step, Lufthansa wants to take over 41 percent of Ita (formerly Alitalia) for a price of 325 million euros. The EU Commission must approve the agreement. The decision is the responsibility of the Italian Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, who was previously Prime Minister himself. Gentiloni comes from the ranks of the social democratic PD, the political rival of Meloni’s ultra-right party Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy).
The agreement on the German airline joining the previous competitor was announced at the end of April. If approved by the competition authorities, a takeover would also be possible later. From 2025 onwards, Lufthansa could exercise an option for a further 49 percent. But the Italian state also wants to keep a share beyond that.
NEW DELHI/ROME (dpa-AFX)
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