A train of Italian ministers briefs MEPs on their far-reaching economic, social and infrastructure plans.

Italian EU Presidency vision

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A familiar ritual for MEPs, ministers  of the current EU Presidency, now it’s Italy,

pitching their pitch for the next 6 months.

Giuliano Poletti,  Employment and Social Conditions;

Angelino Alfano, Immigration and Crime,  Andrea Orlando, Justice,

and Maurizio Lupi, planes, trains  and things that move.

Mr Poletti was absorbed  by what absorbs every European politician,

not to mention millions of under 25s:  unemployment.

the social dimension of the European  economic and monetary union

and thirdly the fight against poverty  and social exclusion,

the social economy  and the fifth green growth.

MEPs across the spectrum  warmed to his intentions.

I want to emphasise that youth  unemployment is rightly set at the top

and this of course correlates with two points

which are also named among the five  priorities:

For Italy immigration has been  and will continue to be a big priority,

witness last year’s drowning of more  than 350 boat refugees off Lampedusa

What do you intend to do  to establish legal and safe routes

for these people fleeing war  and persecution?

The Common European Asylum System  has become a fundamental linchpin,

that's why the strengthening  of the European Asylum Support Office

is becoming the crucial element  of these objectives.

His colleague, Justice Minister,  Andrea Orlando,

addressed priorities  in data protection and data storage,

a predominant issue  in the coming months.

Next, planes, trains and boats:  transport basically.

Italy’s Transport Minister, Maurizio Lupi,

outlined a packed agenda  to advance initiatives

to improve air transport and Europe’s  hopelessly fractured rail network.

So, plenty of work for this Presidency  at a crucial time

at the start of a new parliamentary term.

The Italians will be able to get on with it  without too much scrutiny right now.

MEPs leave this week for the summer  and won’t be back till September.