
LONDON. – Europe is becoming “a bad word” due to the strains of the migrant crisis and growing inequality among euro zone countries that risk driving the continent apart, Italy’s Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said yester- day.
Speaking at an event hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which was set up 25 years ago after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Padoan said governments were not doing enough to tackle the region’s big problems.
“In terms of language, in many cases let’s face it, Europe is becoming a bad word and that is very serious,” said Padoan.
With the euro zone struggling to shake off debt worries that have nearly split the currency bloc in recent years, Padoan said an even greater threat now came from the possible breakdown of Europe’s borderless Schengen region as some countries introduce emergency controls to stem the movement of migrants.
“If Schengen fails, this is going to be much more destructive than a crisis of the euro zone,” he said. — Reuters.



