Italian European policy

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After the fall of Duce Mussolini , the Italian king recognized Victor Emmanuel III. and his Prime Minister Marshal Pietro Badoglio that Italy could not save itself to neutrality . Both understood that Italy had to continue to participate in the war and stand on the side of the Allies. The partial occupation of Italy by German troops left no other choice. Alcide de Gasperi , Italian foreign minister from 1944 to 1946, sensed that the Americans and the British did not regard Italy as an allied but a defeated state. De Gasperi, who had meanwhile become Prime Minister from 1945 to 1953, had to form a government without socialists and communists in 1947: the goal was to receive US reconstruction aid ( Marshall Plan ). But when Italy became a founding member of NATO in 1949 , de Gasperi was faced with a domestic “no” front of communists, left Catholics, social democrats and socialists. In these difficult domestic and foreign political times, however, he finally saw a way out: Europe. With the opening to Europe, de Gasperi came to terms with a basic pro-European mood in the population, which enabled him to calm down the “no” front. From this initial position Italy became a founding member of the Council of Europe, the Coal and Steel Community, the WEU and finally the EEC (Treaty of Rome of March 1957).

In the early 1960s, the Italian Socialists (PSI) and the Social Democrats in the Federal Republic (SPD) saw themselves challenged by de Gaulle. De Gaulle's ideas of a Europe from the Urals to the Atlantic and France's reputation both within NATO and within European organizations were shaped by his ambition for the grandeur of France. His aim was to see France's greatness confirmed in the context of the Cold War. As a result, de Gaulle's decisions could not always be accepted by the Western partners. The PSI and the SPD reaffirmed his disapproval of European politics by supporting European integration and the institutions that were created after their failure at the beginning of the 1950s. At the beginning of the 1960s, coalitions between the social democratic parties and the Christian democratic parties became possible in Italy and Germany, which significantly influenced European politics.

Subsequently, Italy took part in all important acts of European integration ( Maastricht , Amsterdam , Nice , support for eastward enlargement ) into the 1990s , but not without difficulties. The decision of the Association for the European Monetary System (EMS) was made by Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti in 1979 against the vote of the Italian Central Bank ( Banca d'Italia ). Due to the massive national debt , high inflation rates and the failed fiscal policy of the Italian governments in the 1980s , Italy had to leave the EMS again in 1992.

In addition to the terrible state financial crisis, the country experienced another crisis in the 1990s: Italy had to cope with a severe crisis of the established parties, accompanied by problems of the welfare state, the labor market and the currency, as well as violent crime and social tensions. In this situation, the Maastricht Treaty and its so-called “ convergence criteria ” appeared to be a break-through as they accelerated the overall crisis. Paradoxically, however, the political crisis ultimately made financial stability in Italy an achievable goal. Because it enabled the so-called "technical" governments of Giuliano Amato , Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Lamberto Dini to implement courageous, clear and sometimes painful, but ultimately imperative reforms.

After tough negotiations and even tougher restrictions, Italy was re-admitted to the EMS in 1996, thanks to the determined course of the Treasury and Budget Minister Ciampi, the consistent leadership of Romano Prodi as head of government and the support of all partners in the then center-left coalition majority. After three years, on January 1, 1999, the country joined the European Monetary Union (EMU). The way there was opened up by the budget policy of the time and the associated tax increase, as well as partial deregulations and privatizations , which the Italians accepted almost without complaint.

On January 1, 2002, the euro was introduced as a currency in Italy. After the 2001 elections, however, a new political coalition seized power. This center-right government, consisting of the parties Forza Italia (FI), Lega Nord (LN), Alleanza Nazionale (AN) and Unione Democratica Cristiana (UDC), looked at European integration. Accordingly, nationalistic and anti-European aspects dominated in the AN or in the LN, which have allowed relations with the European institutions to cool down.

Since 2011, the technical governments of Mario Monti and Enrico Letta have launched a strong reform process to combat the euro crisis and Italy's national debt. On February 27, 2014, the Partito Democratico (PD) became a member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Social Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D).

From July 1 to the end of December 2014, Italy took over the EU Council Presidency from Greece . The program of the Italian Presidency comprised three themes:

  • “Europe for economic growth and jobs ”, with a focus on structural reform and innovation;
  • "Europe closer to the citizens: an area of democracy , justice and freedom": The aim was to bring closer to the citizens , u. a. promoted by more reliable and transparent institutions;
  • “New impetus for European foreign policy”: the focus here was primarily on the Mediterranean region and the EU's immediate neighbors, with particular attention being paid to migration policy.

The country has appointed Federica Mogherini as a member of the European Commission. She is the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission.

Italy is committed to the rapid implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, starting with the rapid establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS). The process of EU enlargement to include new members (particularly Turkey and the Western Balkans) is also actively supported by Italy. The topics of EU growth, employment and strengthening the EU's foreign trade as well as migration , asylum and refugee policy are currently priorities for Italy at the European level.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Stefan von Kempis and Beatrice Gorawantschy: Italian Foreign and European Policy, KAS-Auslandsinformationen, Berlin, 2005.
  2. ↑ a b c Patrick Bredenbach: The socialist and social democratic European policy in Italy and the Federal Republic in the early 1960s. In: European History Thematic Portal, 2013.
  3. ↑ Federal Agency for Civic Education (author: Mario Caciagli): Italy and Europe - Continuation of a relationship between coercion and incentive, Berlin, 2004.
  4. ↑ Pd entra nel Pse: 121 sì, 1 contrario. L´Unità. February 27, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ Program of the Italian Presidency in the Council of the European Union: http://www.bundestag.de/blob/294108/6b5b0df0251a2b0860be51dbc8142c5e/italienische-ratspraesidentschaft-2014-data.pdf
  6. ↑ European Union, page: Italy, http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/italy/index_de.htm
  7. ↑ Foreign Office, page: Italy, foreign policy http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/Italien/Aussenpolitik_node.html