By CGTN's Wang Hui
In recent years, the European Union has faced historical challenges from referendums, Brexit, intensified economic and migrant crises as well as horrific terrorist attacks. The EU, it is fair to say, is struggling in a turbulent changing world.
Dialogue with Yang Rui had an exclusive interview with Romano Prodi, the former prime minister of Italy, who looked to share his abundant experience in the fields of policy making and economics and give his view on the future of the EU.
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“Because of the economic and financial crisis, the EU solidarity that we had that time does not exist anymore. The UK came out of the European Union, and the UK is an important country. So we have a deep crisis,” said Prodi.
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“I have to be very sincere, I think that sanctions against Russia have been a mistake. I think that we have strong complementarity between Europe and Russia,” said Prodi, when asked about the EU and Russia relationship.
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When it comes to the US relationship with the EU and China, Prodi said that the US is "encouraging" the European Union to split, and that the Trump government won’t allow a strong EU to exist.
Prodi sneered at Trump's attitude towards the China-US relationship, questioning "which is the real American policy or vision over China?"
On the future of cooperation between China and the EU and Italy, Prodi happily emphasized that following President Xi Jinping’s Davos presentation, Italy is delighted to have joined the One Belt One Road Initiative.
