Italian members of the European Parliament are poised to leave the Union for Europe group, of which Fianna Fail MEPs are members, and join the European People's Party grouping, to which Fine Gael MEPs belong, writes Patrick Smyth in Strasbourg. The expected move by some 18 Forza Italia MEPs will reduce the group's influence within the parliament, and thereby that of Fianna Fail MEPs as well.
Only six MEPs from Forza Italia, the party established and run by the multi-millionaire, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, are expected to stay with Union for Europe, leaving the seven Fianna Fail MEPs and the 18 French Gaullists as the major components of the currently 56-strong group.