Eni's CEO, Claudio Descalzi, interviewed by “La Stampa” talking about energy, declared that Europe is “a big market, but we don't have energy and it's a weakness that is not always considered as it should”.
Descalzi explained that the "diversification of energy sources and the connection of the many infrastructures over which it has invested in the past would be necessary. From an energy point of view we are too weak as a continent to continue with national energy policies. When one is without energy, one must be together. We have strong structures, but we struggle to interconnect them, and I say this by thinking of gas. "
“Spain - he observes - is poorly connected, France is divided into three and Italy is also not well connected, flows from South to North struggle. It would be good to rethink the rules, tax, customs, and management. They should be more homogeneous and simple. An emblematic example of a lack of synergy is gas storage ". "A common European energy policy would be an opportunity for Europe to be connected to Africa and to have a real diversification and an opportunity for Italy to become an excellent hub".
Then speaking of the trial on the case of the alleged bribes paid by Eni in Nigeria, Descalzi said he was sure that in the trial he and the former Eni number one Paolo Scaroni will be able to defend themselves and have their say. “In these three years - he added - the Board of Directors and the control bodies have carried out various types of external and internal analyzes that have verified the correctness of the processes followed. Three times the Board has declared its confidence in the structure and in me, and also the certainty that the rules have been respected. Having said that, I'm calm, I'm waiting for the trial. As always, I remain focused on the company and its growth ".