ROME, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Italy is in favor of a multi-speed European integration, which is already an existing reality within the bloc, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Wednesday.
Gentiloni made his remarks while addressing both houses of parliament, ahead of the European Council meeting scheduled on March 9 and 10 in Brussels where the debate over the issue will continue with heads of state and government.
"Italy is in favor of a more unified European Union (EU), and we should allow this to happen at various levels of integration," he told lawmakers.
"This would mean acknowledging the state of things: the perspective of an ever greater integration is hard to achieve within a Europe at 28 (member states)."
Meeting in Versailles last week, the leaders of Italy, France, Germany, and Spain had already called for a greater European integration to be developed at different speeds.
"The project (of a multi-speed EU) is not meant to be against someone, but is an existing reality," Gentiloni remarked on Wednesday.
He added his government was keeping pace with its wide reform agenda and would not "take lessons" from EU partners.
"I would challenge anyone to point at another government or parliament in Europe engaged in such a large package of reform as we are," he said.
"We are not top of the class, but we will not accept lessons from anyone."
Later this month, the Italian government is preparing to host the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, which opened the way to the current EU.
