Matteo Renzi has changed the traditional narrative proposed by the Italian Centreleft about the relation between Italy and the EU. Instead of the long-standing vision based on the importance of «vincolo esterno», the Italian prime minister prefers to emphasize the efforts made by Italy to become a fully modernized European country. His critiques to the receipts adopted by the European Commission to overcome the economic crisis have offered to Renzi the opportunity to propose a narrative based on the need of a new reform of the EU institutions and the rediscovery of the founding spirit of solidarity among Member States. After a discussion of the different narratives characterising Italy after the EU foundation, the article analysis the public discourse on the EU proposed by Renzi.