'Italy won't be preached to' Renzi tells Weber

'The Renaissance also sprang from a financial crisis' says Renzi

(ANSA) - Rome, July 2 - Italy won't be treated with prejudice during its duty European Union presidency, Premier Matteo Renzi told European People's Party (EPP) caucus leader Manfred Weber Wednesday. "We will be happy to engage in debate, but those who would brandish the arm of prejudice against Italy will be making a mistake. We won't be preached to", Renzi said in reply to Weber's calls for fiscal rigor.

The Renaissance sprang from Europe's first financial crisis in the 1400s, the former mayor of Florence reminded Weber. "Neither Italy nor France are asking for new rules. We agree with the current ones. What we are saying is that one can't defend anything by digging in behind a slogan, not even one's country of origin", Renzi added.