Today, German daily @welt published an opinion piece entitled "Mrs Merkel, stand firm" opposing use of Coronabonds as "in Italy, the mafia is just waiting for more money to rain down from Brussels." This is misleading nonsense in so many ways, as well as a tired cliché [Thread]>>

First, if the Italian economy doesn't receive financial help from clean legal sources, where do you think businesses will turn for help? If, they are forced to turn to mafia groups this will strengthen these groups, which also operate extensively in Germany & other EU states >>

Second, as mafia groups have a strong presence in Germany & other EU states as well, they illegally appropriate EU funds destined for use in those states too, just that awareness/understanding of the phenomenon is much lower outside Italy >>

Third, Italy has much more robust administrative & legal controls over spending of EU funds than other countries. The higher number of cases of fraud & corruption in use of EU funds uncovered in Italy may not be because they are more frequent, but due to stricter oversight >>

In conclusion, mafia, 'ndrangheta etc., is not just an Italian problem. Indeed, if huge sums of money become available these groups will target 'soft touches' like Germany just as much, if not more, than Italy, where the situation is getting tougher for them. //