Italy spends more on the money of the European Union, but still has to commit itself. This is what emerges from the words of Eneko Landaburu, director general of the European commission, which takes stock of the “consolidation” of the union and its enlargement to the east. The commitment of Italian governments in the spending of EU structural funds (the main source of funding for the union to support the development of areas in crisis or backward areas) has improved but “it is not enough, it takes more effort, even in respect of other countries “. Moreover, for the EU official, from the 38 percent target set by Ciampi would depend on the prestige of the Minister of the Treasury in Europe. “Until a few years ago when I was returning from Rome or Sicily,” Landaburu says, “I was desperate.”