Berlusconi returns to stage in diplomatic performance

For Silvio Berlusconi, more than any of the 18 other national leaders at yesterday's Nato summit, it was important that he looked like a proper statesman, and not the shady billionaire media tycoon that he really is. He was among allies, but not necessarily among friends. And many of his fellow prime ministers of a less right-wing persuasion would have been delighted to see him stumble.

When Mr Berlusconi was last elected Prime Minister of Italy, in 1994, his debut on the international stage was marred when the Greek hosts at an EU summit in Corfu gave him the cold shoulder because of his inclusion of a post-fascist party in his government.

He came to Brussels yesterday, just two days after being sworn into office, under the burden of similar alliances. The once-fascist National Alliance and the xenophobic Northern League again hold senior posts in Mr Berlusconi's government. But perhaps his blushes were saved by an earlier protest of EU leaders ­ against Jörg Haider of Austria. Diplomatic "slap-in-the-face" sanctions imposed on him last year were dropped after eight months, having accomplished nothing.

There was little stomach in Brussels yesterday for any such warning shot across Mr Berlusconi's bows. But he did have to watch his step. He assured his colleagues that he planned no big changes in Italy's foreign policy and ­ surprise, surprise ­ Italy remained committed to Nato. Moreover, having positioned himself to the right even of Tony Blair he was in a position to rub up close to the visitor-in-chief and global beacon of the right, President Bush.

Mr Berlusconi affirmed his European credentials by calming fears that he was considering following Mr Bush in rejecting the Kyoto protocol. But he then said that Mr Bush was right to be happy with the results of the summit, while carefully avoiding stating what those results were.

"I think there are nuances of opinion, but not a real attitude of rejection," Mr Berlusconi said of the reception to Mr Bush's proposals on missile defence. "We agreed that it is necessary for a new, innovative approach in our policies to do with these new threats. I didn't see any insurmountable differences."

You could only feel sorry for Mr Blair. It would be too bad if Mr Berlusconi became the new conduit for the US into the heart and mind of Europe.