Schulz urges Italy to bolster up, praises Renzi

'EU needs strong Italy, Italy needs supportive EU'

(ANSA) - Brussels, March 20 - European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Thursday urged Italy to gather up strength, saying that the European Union needed a strong Italy and that Italy in turn needed support from the 28-member group.

"The EU needs a strong Italy, and Italy needs a supportive EU, which means supporting the nation's way out of the economic crisis", Schulz said. "I am fighting alongside Renzi to achieve this" and "I hope he achieves the objectives with the reforms".