Sofia May 17 (IANS/AKI) European Union leaders are watching Italy - until now a solid partner on the international stage which must play an ever-greater role in Europe post-Brexit Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Thursday.
"The attention of Europe s leaders is focused on Italy " Gentiloni said at an EU-Western Balkans summit in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
Italian fiscal policy since the eurozone sovereign debt crisis has burnished Italy s image in the EU he argued.
"The whole of the bloc recognises that Italy s economy is stronger and that we are a credible partner besides one of the major EU countries in the wake of Britain s exit " Gentiloni said.
"This is why at a time when Europe s future is very much under discussion and there are diverging visions of the future there is a huge need for our country to play a leading role " he said.
A new eurosceptic government between the populist Five-Star Movement and League parties that is poised to be formally confirmed in the next few days could trigger a Greek-style crisis in Italy - the eurozone s third-largest economy - according to some analysts.

--IANS/AKI
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