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Europe
Italy |
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Last reviewed: 22 May 2009 |
Country information
Area: 301,318 sq km
Population: 59.13m
Capital City: Rome (population: 2.7m)
People: Mostly Italian, with small populations of German, French and Slovene Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south. Around 4m legal immigrant foreigners and 1m illegal immigrants. The largest immigrant populations are from Romania, Albania and Morocco.
Life expectancy: men (78.3), women (84)
Language(s): Italian. However, German is the predominant language in the South Tyrol (Trentino-Alto Adige); French is predominant in the Valle d'Aosta region on the Swiss/French border and Slovene on the Slovene border.
Religion(s): 83% Roman Catholic; remainder Jewish and Protestant and a growing Muslim immigrant community - an estimated 825,000 of which between 140,00-160,000 are Italian born.
Currency: euro
Parliament: Italy has a bicameral system composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. Both are directly elected and are of equal authority.
Major Political Parties:
Parties in the Centre-Right Government
- Popolo della Libertà (PdL – People of Liberty): Silvio Berlusconi
- Lega Nord (Northern League): Umberto Bossi
- Movimento per l’Autonomia (MPA – Autonomous Movement): Raffaele Lombardo
Opposition Parties
- Partito Democratico (PD - Democratic party): Walter Veltroni
- Italia dei Valori (IdV - Italy of Values): Antonio Di Pietro
- Unione di Centro (UDC - Union of the Centre): Pierferdinando Casini
Government: Republic
Head of State: President Giorgio Napolitano (elected May 2006)
The Constitution provides for the election of the Head of State (who is not politically aligned) for a seven-year term by an electoral college, consisting of the two Houses of Parliament and delegates from each region. The President, required by the Constitution to be over 50 years old, can dissolve one or both houses of Parliament after consultation with the Speakers.
Prime Minister: Silvio Berlusconi (elected April 2008 for a 5-year mandate).
Membership of main international groups/organisations: Founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 1949. Founding member of the European Community (precursor of the European Union) in 1957. Italy held the Presidency of the EU from July 2003 to December 2003. Member of United Nations and the G8. (Italy will hold the Presidency of the G8 in 2009).
DID YOU KNOW?
It rains more in Rome than in London. The annual rainfall in Rome is 744mm (30 inches), compared to 593mm (24 inches) in London.
ECONOMY
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: €1.27 billion (approx $1.65bn) (2008 estimate)
Annual Growth: -0.1% (2008), -3/-4% (2009 forecast)
Inflation: 1.3% (March 2009)
Unemployment: 6.8% (2008), forecast to increase to 9.2% in 2009.
Major trading partners: EU (57%), US, China, Japan, Turkey, Russia.
Italy is the world’s eighth largest industrial economy. It has few natural resources, the most important being natural gas reserves - in the Po valley and offshore in the Adriatic Sea - and some oil deposits. Most raw materials needed for manufacturing and more than 80% of the country’s energy are imported. Italy’s economic strength is in the processing and manufacturing of goods, primarily in small and medium sized family-owned firms. Its major industries are tourism, precision machinery, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electrical goods, textiles, fashion, clothing and footwear.
Italy is the world’s eighth largest industrial economy. It has few natural resources, the most important being natural gas reserves - in the Po valley and offshore in the Adriatic Sea - and some oil deposits. Most raw materials needed for manufacturing and more than 80% of the country’s energy are imported. Italy’s economic strength is in the processing and manufacturing of goods, primarily in small and medium sized family-owned firms. Its major industries are tourism, precision machinery, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electrical goods, textiles, fashion, clothing and footwear.
HISTORY
The "Risorgimento"
Italian unity was achieved in an intense and dramatic struggle, known as the Risorgimento (Revival), between 1848 and 1870 under the House of Savoy and was essentially the conquest of the Italian peninsula by the Kingdom of Sardinia in the north ruled by the Savoy dynasty from Turin. The first part of this process ended in 1861 with the declaration of the Kingdom of Italy, comprising the northern provinces, Sicily, Sardinia and the south. Mazzini, Garibaldi and Cavour were the epic figures who led the unification of Italy, which was completed in 1871 when the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II (formerly the King of Piedmont and Sardinia), entered Rome, the capital of the Papal States, expelled the French troops defending papal authority and declared it the capital of Italy. The conquest of the Papal States ended the temporal power of the papacy. However, the Church refused to recognise the new state and excommunicated its monarch, the Pope remaining confined within the small enclave of the Vatican. The "Roman Question", or the territorial status of Rome, and the question of Church/state relations were not settled until 1929 when the Lateran Pact was concluded between the Vatican and Mussolini.
Recent History
The General Election of 13 May 2001 was won by Silvio Berlusconi and his centre-right House of Liberties coalition. It became the longest serving post-war Italian Government and the only one to survive the five-year legislative period.
The General Election of 9/10 April 2006 was won by Romano Prodi and his centre-left 'Unione' coalition, with a majority of 67 seats in the Chamber of Deputies but only a 2 seat majority in the Senate. The majority in the Senate had been reduced to zero by the time Prodi lost a vote of confidence in the Senate in January 2008.
New General Elections took place on 13/14 April 2008. Berlusconi’s centre-right People of Liberty (PdL – Popolo della Libertà) party in coalition with the Lega Nord (Northern League, led by Umberto Bossi) and il Movimento per l’Autonomia (MPA - Autonomous Movement led by Raffaele Lombardo) won convincingly, with 47% of the vote, ensuring a comfortable majority in both Houses of Parliament.
The 2008 General Elections heralded an important change in Italian politics, brought about by the decisions of the two biggest parties, the PdL and the PD to run alone in the elections, engendering a more bi-party system. The radical left, in a coalition that went under the name Sinistra Arcobaleno (Left Rainbow) and whose constituent parties held Prodi hostage for 20 months, failed to win any seats in either House. The number of parties in Parliament dropped from 39 to 9.
Recent Political Developments
In April 2007 the two largest parties of the centre-left, the Democratici di Sinistra (DS) and the Margherita, agreed at their respective congresses to the dissolution of their parties and the formation of a new Partito Democratico (Democratic Party). On 14 October 2007 3.5 million people turned out to vote in primary elections to elect the party’s leader, as well as its national and regional executives. Walter Veltroni won the primaries with an overwhelming 75% of the vote. The Partito Democratico’s founding congress is due to be held in Spring 2009, and will be followed by the formal dissolution of the DS and the Margherita parties. The Partito Democratico ran without any former allies on the left in the recent elections, with Veltroni as its prime ministerial candidate.
Similarly Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia and Gianfranco Fini’s Alleanza Nazionale (National Alliance) are in the process of forming a single party known as the Popolo della Libertà (People of Liberty).
The April 2008 election was won with a landslide 48% majority vote by the PdL (as it is more commonly known) led by Silvio Berlusconi, together with coalition partners the Lega Nord (Northern League led by Umberto Bossi) and il Movimento per l’Autonomia (MPA - Autonomous Movement led by Raffaele Lombardo)
The recent elections have heralded a seismic change in Italian politics, brought about by the decisions of the two biggest parties, the PdL and the PD to run alone in the elections. This decision has had the knock on effect producing a more bi-party system. The radical left, in a coalition that goes under the name Sinistra Arcobaleno (Left Rainbow) and whose constituent parties held Prodi hostage for 20 months, failed to win any seats in either House. The number of parties in Parliament has been drastically reduced (from 39 following the 2006 elections to 9).
The new Parliament convened on Tuesday 29 April. The Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his new Government team, were endorsed by a Parliamentary vote of confidence as required by the Constitution.
Recent Political Developments
In April 2007 the two largest parties of the centre-left, the Democratici di Sinistra (DS) and the Margherita, agreed at their respective congresses to the dissolution of their parties and the formation of a new Partito Democratico (Democratic Party - PD). On 14 October 2007, 3.5 million people voted in primary elections for Party leader, as well as for the national and regional executives. Walter Veltroni won the primaries with an overwhelming 75% of the vote.
In the 2008 General Elections, Veltroni stood as the party’s prime ministerial candidate, in coalition with Di Pietro’s Italy of Values party and select members of the Radicals. The PD gained a respectable 34% of the national vote but lost to Berlusconi’s PdL coalition. After this electoral defeat the PD underwent a period of introspection, from which it has still fully to emerge. In addition a series of local electoral defeats and bribery scandals deeply affected the party and Veltroni’s leadership. Following the party’s poor showing in the February 2009 Sardinian Regional Election (24.4% of the vote, compared to 30.5% for Berlusconi’s party), Veltroni resigned and was replaced by his former deputy, Dario Franceschini, as caretaker leader until the party’s founding congress, due to be held in October 2009.
Similarly on the right as a result of their People of Liberty (PdL) 2008 General Election victory, Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia and Gianfranco Fini’s Alleanza Nazionale (National Alliance) formalised their merger at the end of March 2009 at the PdL’s inaugural party congress at which Berlusconi was pronounced leader.
Forthcoming electoral tests for both the PdL and the PD are the European Parliamentary Elections (6 and 7 June 2009) which will be held together with a series of local elections to elect 63 provincial administrations and 4.277 town councils. A referendum on the current electoral system will also be held in June.
Longer Historical Perspective
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Italy's relations with the UK
About 4-5 million British visitors visit Italy each year, while just over 1 million Italians visit the UK. There are 100,000 Britons resident in Italy, while 150,000 Italians live in the UK. Italy is an important partner of the United Kingdom, both in the bilateral context and in our work together as members of the European Union, NATO, G8 and other international organisations. This relationship is strengthened by frequent contacts at ministerial level. Co-operation in other areas includes the annual British-Italian Conference “Pontignano”, which brings together opinion formers from both countries to debate topical issues. This year the conference will be moved for the first time, for its 18th edition, from its traditional home in Pontignano to Rome, though it will keep the “Pontignano” name. President Napolitano has attended the conference.
Cultural Relations with the UK
Italian influence on Britain's cultural and social development has been profound. The Renaissance, probably the most significant cultural explosion to affect the UK began in Italy. Italian literature influenced Chaucer, Milton and the Romantic poets. Many of Shakespeare's plays are set in Italy and Italian architects, painters, musicians and composers have all made a great impact in the UK.
British contemporary visual and performing arts are well respected in Italy and there is a constant and lively exchange at all levels. British contemporary art, architecture and design has a high profile in the Italian media and British music, ranging from the main classical orchestras and conductors to popular DJs, figures prominently on the Italian scene.
British Council, Italy
The British Council has operated in Italy for sixty years and organises events and exchanges in the fields of the arts, education, governance and science. It runs English language courses from its four centres in Italy and provides information services on UK education and other areas of interest to Italians.
The UK is represented in Italy through the British Embassy in Rome, Consulate General in Milan, Consulates in Florence and Naples, and a network of honorary consuls. The British Council has offices in Rome, Milan, Bologna and Venice.
Recent Visits
Inward
- Former President and Mrs Ciampi paid an Official State Visit to Britain in March 2005.
- President Napolitano and Sigra Napolitano paid a private visit to London in October 2006 during which they met with HM The Queen.
- The Prime Minister Rt. Hon Tony Blair met with Romano Prodi in London on 6 November 2006.
- The Foreign Secretary David Milliband met with Franco Frattini in London on 30 July 2008.
- Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi attended the London Summit and associated events in April 2009, and met HM the Queen, HRH the Prince of Wales, and Prime Minister Brown.
Outward
- HM The Queen paid a State Visit to Italy in October 2000 accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
- HRH Prince of Wales paid a working visit to Rome, Florence and Naples in November 2002.
- HRH Prince of Wales visited Turin and the Piedmont region at the end of October 2004 to attend the Slow Food Movement’s biannual international food and drink show.
- Former Chancellor of the Exchequer (and current Prime Minister) Gordon Brown met the Italian Prime Minister in February 2007 during the course of an official visit to Rome.
- Speakers of both the House of Commons and House of Lords visited Rome in March 2007 to attend the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Treaty of Rome.
- Former SoS for Work and Pensions Rt. Hon John Hutton attended the National Conference on Family in Italy in May 2007.
- Europe Minister Jim Murphy paid a working visit to Rome in May 2008
GEOGRAPHY
A peninsula in Southern Europe extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, including the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Elba and about 70 other smaller islands. It is mostly mountainous, though between the Apennines (which form the spine of Italy) and the eastern coastline there are the fertile plains of Emilia-Romagna in the north and of Puglia in the south. The Alps in the north divide Italy from France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The climate is predominantly Mediterranean in the south and Alpine in the north.
Global issues (Climate Change, Environment and Energy)
Italy ratified the Kyoto Protocol in May 2002. Under the Protocol Italy has a target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 6.5% against 1990 levels. Current emissions are between 12-13% above 1990 levels, though 2006 saw the first drop (1.5%) for nearly 15 years. The main sources of emissions are the energy sector and transport. Italy is highly dependent on imported energy, particularly oil and gas. Three-quarters of Italy's electricity comes from imported sources. Oil makes up 43% of Italy's energy use, natural gas 36%. Renewables account for around 6% of total energy, mainly from hydroelectric sources. Italy phased out nuclear power following a referendum in 1987.
Rome hosts the Secretariat to the Rotterdam Convention on Hazardous Chemicals (jointly with Geneva) and the Global BioEnergy Partnership which Italy launched in 2005. Rome is also the site of the headquarters of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Italy
UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Italy
UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Italy
POLITICS
Parliament
Italy has a bicameral system composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. Both are directly elected and are of equal authority. The Speakers of the Senate and Chamber are respectively second and third to the President of the Republic in the Italian order of precedence.
Senate
100% of senatorial seats are decided on the basis of proportional representation according to regions (20 regional constituencies). There are two separate thresholds for parties and coalitions: single parties obtaining less than 8% of the vote in each single region are not represented in the Senate; coalitions failing to win 20% of the vote in each region do not obtain seats.
The threshold to reach in order to obtain a senatorial seat corresponds to 55% of all regional votes within each region. In the event of a close result, the coalition with the majority of votes is given extra seats to reach that percentage. On a national basis the seats amount to 308 (6 for constituencies overseas).
Chamber of Deputies
- 100% of parliamentary seats are decided on the basis of proportional representation with large voting districts replacing smaller constituencies (in total 27 districts)
- There are three separate cut-off thresholds for parties and coalitions:
- single parties obtaining less than 2% of the national vote are not represented in parliament, and their votes count towards their coalition's overall tally. (However, should some seats remain unallocated these votes are then assigned to those parties that have received less than 2% of the national vote in descending order.)
- parties obtaining less than 4% of the national vote (but more than 2%) are not given seats, but their votes count towards their coalition's tally;
- coalitions failing to win at least 10% of the national vote do not obtain seats.
- In the event of a close result and should the winning coalition not gain the necessary 340 seats (out of 618 plus 12 for constituencies representing Italians resident overseas) to guarantee a sufficient majority in the Chamber of Deputies, then the "missing" extra seats (see (1) above) are given to this coalition.
Government
Consists of the President of the Council of Ministers and departmental Ministers who together constitute the Council of Ministers. Ministers are nominated by the Prime Minister and formally appointed by the President of the Republic.
Regional Government
Italy is made up of 20 regions, including 5 autonomous regions. Regional Presidents have been directly elected since 1998.
Defence
NATO, of which Italy is a founder member, is the cornerstone of Italian defence policy. UK-Italy bilateral defence relations are excellent; Italy currently regards the UK as the military partner of choice and is a close ally on ESDP.
Italy plays a prominent role in peacekeeping, stabilisation and reconstruction operations in the Lebanon, Afghanistan and the Balkans and it participates in the NATO Training Mission in Iraq as well as in many UN and other missions around the world. Numbers fluctuate (and the figures below are only a guide) but the total number of Italian troops deployed abroad amounts to an average of around 10,000.
Around 2,800 Italian troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan as part of NATO's international peacekeeping force; Italy has the lead in Regional Command West in Herat, where it runs a Provincial Reconstruction Team and makes a significant contribution to the Forward Support Base established there. Since 2006, Italy also leads the UN mission in the Lebanon - UNIFIL - with a deployment of around 2,500 troops, and continues to deploy around 3,000 troops in the Balkans, mainly in Kosovo.
Although it withdrew its troops from south-east Iraq at the end of 2006, Italy still contributes personnel to the NATO Training Mission in Baghdad. It has deployed a Role 2 military field hospital to Chad under EUFOR with over 100 personnel, which will be taken on by Norway this summer and also has service personnel deployed in a large number of other (mostly UN-led) international operations around the globe. Finally, some 700 Italians sailors are deployed on naval operations worldwide, including a contingent operating under Operation Enduring Freedom in the Indian Ocean and the EU Operation Atalanta to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia.
