Statement By President Of The European Council Herman Van Rompuy After A Phone Call With Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti

I had this morning a phone conversation with the new Italian President of the Council ofMinisters, professor Mario Monti.

We discussed the situation in the euro area and particularly in Italy.I expressed the EU's full confidence on the Italian capacity to overcoming its currentsituation and to fully contribute to solving the euro area financial crisis.

We agreed to continue our discussion in a meeting in Brussels next week.