Italy and European Integration

The country known for its pasta and Ferraris is ploddingly gaining importance in the European Union (EU). Italy was not among the five forerunners of the European Union, yet it was the first to join them in the European Economic Community (EEC). However, its entry in the EEC in 1957 was only the beginning of Italy’s involvement toward European integration.

In 2005, Italy resolutely joined Spain in accelerating European integration. Denmark’s and France’s rejection of the EU Constitution posited the entire EU in a tight spot. At the 6th Forum for the Dialogue between Spain and Italy, the Foreign Ministers of both states vowed to “to make efforts to break the ice and hammer [as] a remedy for the EU's hobbled integration.” Italy was also one among 10 countries which vouched for the treaty’s ratification.[1]

In lieu with recent events, I observe how Italy is learning to step up. At the wake of the crisis in the Middle East, the “newly transformed” Italian foreign policy was put to the test. In this, Italy brazenly decided to “practice equal favoritism” for all countries involved. This helped achieve a ceasefire in the Lebanon conflict. Italy also exercised leadership by deploying its peacekeeping troops in the Middle East. This decision was a breakthrough which was motivated by the commendation of the United States and Israel, as well as the EU’s involvement in military missions.[2] Italy clearly demonstrates its willingness to comply with EU missions.

Just this spring (in Europe), Italian Premier Romano Prodi and his pro-Europe allies have decided to re-launch Italy’s stand as a “europhile”. They openly vowed to steer back from the formerly “euro-sceptic government” headed by Silvio Berlusconi, which had “abandoned Italy's well-established tradition of championing EU integration”. As of present time, Italy endeavors to rejoin European debates over the constitution along with fresh enlargement and integration schemes.[3]

There are more to demonstrate Italy’s patronage of integration. Its government now claims that the revival of the EU Constitutional Treaty is now a top priority. But unlike German chancellor and incumbent EU head Angela Merkel, Italy suggests an eventual renegotiation of the rejected treaty. It recommends the solidification of EU institutions. Apropos EU enlargement, Italy has become more proactive. It is now rooting for the assimilation of the western Balkans, under the pretext of preventing the Balkans from being an “enclave of instability”. Keeping an open mind and a loud voice, Italy supports further integration by rejecting calls for Turkey’s exclusion. Yet Italy is not all-out in its openness for the sake of integration. While supportive of Turkey, it remains hostile about Ukraine’s (or any other post-Soviet state at that) entry into the Union. Italy trusts that cooperation between the EU and the post-Soviet states could be achieved through the European Neighbourhood Policy, and thus, their admission is negligible. In my opinion, it could even be detrimental to the EU; Italy seems to think so anyway[4].

Works Cited:
Xinhua. “Spain, Italy vow to push forward EU integration”. 2005. People’s Daily Online. 7 July 2007
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Ignazi, Piero. “The New Leading Role of Italy in the EU”. 2006. Safe Democracy Foundation. 7 July 2007
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Greco, Ettore. “Italy's Grand Plans for EU Foreign Policy Rest on Clay Feet at Home”. 2007. Europe’s World.
7 July 2007 .
[1] Xinhua, “Spain, Italy vow to push forward EU integration,” 10 Sep. 2005, People’s Daily Online, 7 July 2007 .
[2] Piero Ignazi, “The New Leading Role of Italy in the EU,” Forum on Democracy, 31 Aug. 2006, Safe Democracy Foundation, 7 July 2007 .
[3] Ettore Greco, “Italy's Grand Plans for EU Foreign Policy Rest on Clay Feet at Home,” The Brookings Institution, 2007, Europe’s World, 7 July 2007 .
[4] Greco