I have the most profound respect for the Department of Justice and the FTC. We in Europe are a younger and I would say junior institution to the historical antitrust experience of the US.

Like other antitrust agencies we make our assessment of a merger or antitrust case based on its impact on our jurisdiction, and not on the nationality of the companies. This is exactly what the U.S. antitrust agencies, the Justice Department and the FTC, do.

If governments let themselves be fully bound by the decisions of their parliaments without protecting their own freedom to act, a breakup of Europe would be a more probable outcome than deeper integration.

Italy even in the future will not need aid from the European Financial Stability Fund.

I deplore attempts to misinform the public and to trigger political intervention. This is out of place in an anti-trust case and has no impact on the Commission.

I would be grateful if my name wasn't considered for a role whose profile and significance does not escape me, but which is not in my plans.