Tag: Italy

Italy has become the first of the big founding EU nations to ratify the Constitution. Meanwhile the Netherlands considers how to deal with a potential French 'No'.

The centre-left opposition, led by the former European Commission President Romano Prodi, has gained significant support in the Italian regional elections. 

The US appears poised to back Italy against Germany over the proposed enlargement of the UN Security Council.      

A group of 19 leading economists say the measures in Italy's budget deficit reduction plan are mainly short-term. Meanwhile Berlusconi says the "country's accounts are under control".

The Italian Olympic Committee's board has decided that Italian teams will have to include no less than 50 per cent Italians. If approved, the move is likely to fall foul of EU law.

In his speech to the EP's Energy and Industry Committee on 9 July, Antonio Marzano, Italian Minister of Productive Activities, outlined the Presidency's priorities for the energy sector.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi officially launched the Italian Presidency of the EU with a presentation of the presidency programme in the European Parliament on 2 July 2003. However, Mr Berlusconi caused outrage in the Parliament and in Berlin by insulting a German vice-president of the European socialist party.

Turkey is not ready to join the EU because it is not a democracy, according to Italian Minister for European Affairs Rocco Buttiglione.

The Italian Deputy Prime Minister, Gianfranco Fini, has announced his Government's plan to propose mediation concerning the future EU Constitution to resolve conflicts of interest.

The Commission on 8 January gave Germany until 21 May to act on cutting its "excessive" deficit and reprimanded France for its "lack of ambition" in its 2002-2006 stability programme.

The Italian Senate ratified the Nice Treaty, with an absolute majority.

Italy's Prime Minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, admitted Italy's centre-right government had abandoned its pro-EU approach. Instead, he said in an interview with the Financial Times, Italy would pursue "limited shared sovereignty in the EU, an economy based on liberal free market principles and the country's national interest".

Internal struggles in the Italian government over the roll-out of the euro have led to the resignation of pro-EU foreign minister Renato Ruggiero. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced that he will take on the job of foreign minister until a successor to Mr. Ruggiero is found.

The repercussions of events at the G8 summit in Genoa last month continue in Italy as the Mayor of Naples, Rosa Jervolino, asked for a meeting of NATO defence ministers in September to be moved away from her city. Her call follows on from statements made earlier in the week by the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who called for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to move a conference scheduled for November out of Rome. Both of these requests were prompted by fears of violence by anti-globalisation protesters seeking revenge for the death of a young Italian demonstrator at the hands of the police in Genoa last month.

The EU and its Member State governments react with caution to election victory of Silvio Berlusconi in Italy

The debate on the European Union takes centre stage in the upcoming Italian 13 May general elections

President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi looks ready to dissolve Italian Parliament this week

Recent Franco-German proposals on a future "pioneer group" leading the EU towards deeper integration, have started a serious debate on the future of the EU in Italy.

Giuliano Amato is continuing his talks with possible coalition partners to form a new government.