At the Meeting of Rimini, a significant debate unfolded between Enrico Letta, tasked by the EU to draft a report on the European single market, and Raffaele Fitto, Italy's Minister for European Affairs and a potential new European Commissioner.

Letta warned of the risk of Europe becoming a "Chinese or American colony" if it fails to integrate its strategic sectors like telecommunications, energy, finance, and defense.

He emphasized the need for a unified approach to avoid irrelevance.

Fitto, however, expressed concerns about the costs of EU expansion, stressing the importance of efficient spending and reform integration, particularly regarding the Next Generation EU funds.

Both leaders agreed on the necessity of securing resources for technological and environmental transitions, with Letta highlighting a need for 500 billion euros.

The discussion underscored the broader challenge of balancing national interests with European unity, a theme resonating with the audience at the event.