News Analysis: Italy to push for stronger EU-wide security strategies in wake of Brussels attacks

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he would push for the European Union (EU) to adopt a common security and defense strategy in the wake of Tuesday's deadly attacks in Brussels.

The attacks, which left more than 30 people dead and nearly 300 injured, come as ties between countries in the 28-nation bloc appear to be unraveling.

Later this year, Britain will vote on whether to leave the EU all together, and the weakening euro currency, slow economic growth, and the rising flood of migrants from the Middle East and Africa have been taking a toll.

Additionally, some extremist political parties in Europe have used recent terror attacks on the continent to spark calls for stricter border controls and other nationalist policies.

Still, Renzi is undeterred. "Those who today are shouting 'let us shut the borders' do not understand that our enemies are oftentimes inside our cities," he said.

"Now is the time to finally create a European security program without boundaries," the prime minister went on. "Europe must go all the way this time."

Earlier, Italian President Sergio Mattarella made a similar point, calling for Europe to develop a "common strategy" to address the growing threat of extremist violence.

Italy's stance is in line with its take on integration in other areas. Since becoming prime minister a little more than two years ago, Renzi has emerged as one of the continent's most vocal pro-EU voices, lobbying for more uniform tax policies, common immigration laws, and more flexibility in EU budget rules.

But experts said the changes Renzi is lobbying for are probably unlikely to take place on a large scale.

"When there's a crisis, it's the wrong time to make a major change," Massimo Blanco, from Italy's National Association of Public and Private Security Experts, said in an interview.

Blanco went on to say that even in other circumstances, states would be unlikely to surrender their autonomy on security issues.

"Security and defense may be the last area to integrate in Europe," he concluded.

But others speculated that Europe might be ready to take some small steps in that direction.

Gian Franco Gallo, a political affairs analyst with ABS Securities in Milan, told Xinhua that despite rivalries between various security agencies, there is common ground.

"In the end of the day, all security agencies want to keep their citizens safe," he said.

"Don't be surprised if the recent tragedies help open up lines of communication and speed up collaboration. That doesn't mean there will be a big, powerful EU agency. But it would put Europe in a stronger position than it is right now," he said. Endit