About: Italy
Growing concerns over Greece and Italy, as negotiations stall on eurozone budget
Latest Greece and Italy’s fiscal plans raised concerns in Brussels, as the Eurogroup met for another round of negotiations on the budgetary instrument for the Eurozone on Thursday (16 May), without major achievements.
Italy clouds Eurogroup discussion on public spending
Finance ministers from the 19 eurozone countries will review public spending in the region on Thursday (16 May), with Italy once again in the spotlight amid an ongoing economic slowdown.
Facebook takes down fake Italian accounts ahead of EU election
Facebook said on Sunday (12 May) it had taken down numerous Italian accounts on its platform that were false or were spreading fake news ahead of a European parliamentary election later this month.
Slowing growth: EU countries urged to further adjust spending
The European Commission called on Spain, Italy, France and Belgium to do more efforts to balance their public accounts yesterday (7 May), citing a slowing economy.
Italy accuses EU of prejudice after grim economic forecasts
Italy accused EU authorities of prejudice on Tuesday (7 May) after they forecast the euro zone's third largest economy would stagnate this year and its huge public debt would rise further.
China defends rejigged ‘Belt and Road’ initiative against EU criticism
“The 'Belt and Road' cooperation is entering into a new stage,” the Chinese ambassador to the EU Zhang Ming promised on Monday (6 May), questioning the EU's reluctance to join China's massive infrastructure programme.
One month to EU elections: An ‘educated guess’ who the next MEPs could be
In many countries, it is already possible to guess, with a good degree of certainty, who the next MEPs could be. All political forces have published their lists, and opinion polls give a snapshot into the balance of power in each country. What is more challenging, is to imagine future coalitions.
Brussels was right about Italy’s weak growth, Juncker says
It is an overstatement to claim that Italy’s debt constitutes a risk for global markets, but a zero-growth rate can only worsen Rome's problems, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in an interview with state broadcaster RAI on Sunday (31 March).
Five arrested after Maltese military seizes tanker hijacked by migrants
Five men were arrested Thursday (28 March) after Maltese armed forces took control of a tanker that was hijacked by migrants off Libya and the ship docked in Malta.
Rights groups lambast Operation Sophia – the EU naval mission without ships
International rights advocates criticised the European Union on Wednesday (27 March) for abdicating its humanitarian responsibilities after the bloc agreed to withdraw ships patrolling the Mediterranean for migrants attempting the perilous voyage. After much wrangling, the EU agreed this week...
EU to end ship patrols in scaled down Operation Sophia
The European Union will cease the maritime patrols that have rescued thousands of migrants making the perilous Mediterranean Sea crossing from North Africa to Europe, but it will extend air missions, two diplomats said on Tuesday (26 March).
EU tells China to rebalance relations as it’s no longer a developing nation
The leaders of France, Germany and the European Commission called on Tuesday (26 March) for more reciprocity in trade relations with China, in a sign that the EU no longer considers China a developing country and is increasingly concerned about its growing influence.
Former minister seeks to shape a progressive front in Italy
Carlo Calenda, a prominent liberal democrat affiliated to centre-left Partito Democratico (PD), wants his new platform 'Siamo Europei' to help create a single pro-EU list for the upcoming elections. EURACTIV.com spoke with him on the sidelines of his platform's manifesto launch in Brussels last week (19 March).
Brussels ‘really worried’ about Italy’s slowing economy
The EU warned Sunday (24 March) of a new row brewing with Italy over its budget, barely a few months after both sides agreed on a hard-fought deal with Rome's disputed 2019 finances.
Oettinger calls for EU veto on Italy-China deal
Italy's participation in China's giant "Silk Road" infrastructure project sparked an outcry in Germany on Sunday (24 March), including a call for the European Union to block such deals with a veto.
5G not part of Italy-China agreement, Di Maio says
Chinese investments into the development of 5G communications networks are not included in the agreement between China and Italy set to be signed tomorrow, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Thursday (22 March).
Italy and France reconcile after Macron’s harsh late-night comments
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte appeared to have found common ground on long-standing bilateral issues, overcoming the risk of another rift after Macron said Italy's attempts to discuss national problems on the sidelines of an EU summit were "a waste of time".
China’s new Silk Road gets bumpy as Xi visits Italy
Chinese President Xi Jinping kicks off a whistlestop European tour in Rome on Friday (22 March) amid growing Western unease over Italy joining the ever-expanding Asian giant's new Silk Road project.
Italy’s Senate shields Salvini from trial over Diciotti case
Italy's Senate voted Wednesday (20 March) to block the trial of far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for allegedly illegally confining migrants rescued at sea by an Italian coastguard ship last year.
NGO ship defies Salvini, takes migrants to Lampedusa
An Italian charity ship was escorted into the port of Lampedusa by police on Tuesday (19 March) after rescuing 49 Africans in the Mediterranean, with Interior Minister Matteo Salvini calling for the crew to be arrested.
EU country briefing: Italy
Italy was a founding member of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1952, which paved the way for the EU. It joined the Schengen in 1997 and eurozone in 1999, despite not meeting the euro convergence criteria, and its economic performance has remained a source of concern.
Commission pursues ‘bilateral and multilateral cooperation’ with China as MEPs express deep concern
The European Commission has set out a series of concrete actions to "deepen its engagement with China to promote common interests," the bloc's top officials said on Tuesday (12 March). However, MEPs voiced concerns over "embedded backdoors" in Chinese tech that may put personal data in the EU at risk.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked memo reveals China’s detailed plans in Italy
China plans to cooperate with Italy in the development of “roads, railways, bridges, civil aviation, ports, energy, and telecommunications” as part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, a confidential 'memorandum of understanding' obtained exclusively by EURACTIV reveals.