Fon Mathuros, Head of Media, Public Engagement, Tel.: +41 (0)79 201 0211, Email: fma@weforum.org
Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 21 January 2015 – Italy’s Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, called for politicians around the world to “carpe diem” and tackle complex risks head-on. “Not to see the risks is stupid for a politician, but the transformation of risks into opportunities is the quality of leadership,” he said. “The economy is important, but without political leadership, we are not in a condition to invest in a different world.”
Renzi was speaking at the 45th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, from 21 to 24 January, at which there are more than 2,500 participants.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that new risks abound, but he said that if leaders around the world can invest in the future “not as a problem, but as an opportunity, it will resonate with a very important message – carpe diem”. He told participants that new reform in Europe is important and that a key point for a “new Europe” is the idea of a future focused on the ability to invest in the new generation and not simply to maintain the traditional approach where the future is a problem.
According to Renzi, Europe’s economic direction needs to change. “At the G20 summit in Brisbane last November, every country spoke about the need to invest in growth,” he said. “Europe and the Eurozone spoke only about austerity. It is important to pay attention to budgets, but it is also important to invest in a new relationship with citizens.”
The next 12 months are critical, Renzi said. “Europe must eliminate the red tape of bureaucracy or it will be finished.” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s massive investment plan to boost jobs, growth and investment, announced last November, must be implemented. Renzi also pointed to “the new role” for the European Central Bank, which is expected to unveil a plan this week to boost the Eurozone’s flagging economy.
In today’s turbulent geopolitical context, involving countries such as Iraq, Libya, Russia, Syria and Ukraine, the Prime Minister said it is important to “show the real importance of a very strong idea of Europe around the world”. If structural reform is reinforced by a “change of mind of European people” and the need for a new international order, it will be possible to help these unstable countries solve their problems. “A lot of instability in Libya can be [dangerous] for every country in Europe,” he said. “It is a place where we can receive a global attack.”
Philipp Rösler, Head of Centre for Regional Strategies, Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum, pointed out that the Prime Minister has achieved more in one year than all of his predecessors, including labour reform.
Renzi pointed to a long list of reforms, including education, the constitution (40 articles are being reviewed), the judicial system, the electoral process (to close the revolving door of Italian politics) and public administration. He added: “The most important structural reform for Italy is credibility.”
The Prime Minister concluded: “My country is famous around the world as a country of division. We want a new vision, not division; a renaissance. I am not here to present a future of tomorrow for my country. The future is today, not tomorrow. Italy [for my children] will be an innovation lab, not a museum.”
The Co-Chairs of the Annual Meeting 2015 are: Hari S. Bhartia, Co-Chairman and Founder, Jubilant Bhartia Group, India; Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, Oxfam International, United Kingdom; Katherine Garrett-Cox, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Alliance Trust, United Kingdom; Young Global Leader Alumnus; Jim Yong Kim, President, The World Bank, Washington DC; Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google, USA; and Roberto Egydio Setubal, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, Itaú Unibanco, Brazil.
Notes to Editors
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