Italy and the European Union

<DIV><P>A Brookings Institution Press and Scuola Superiore della Pubblica Amministrazione (SSPA) publication<BR /><P>Federiga Bindi provides for the first time an in-depth analysis of Italy's role within the European Union (EU) in this inaugural volume of a book series published jointly by the Brookings Institution Press and the Scuola Superiore della Pubblica Amministrazione (Italian National School of Public Administration or SSPA). <I>Italy and the European Union</I> relates in detail the historical cultural and sociological factors that have led to Italy's incomplete Europeanization or full integration within the EU. It also brings the reader up-to-date on the steps taken by the country's leaders to improve Italy's standing and<BR />become a more effective member in the organization it helped to found.</P><P>Discussing the author's extensive research <I>The Economist</I> notes....</P><P>Federiga Bindi identified a number of barriers to an effective European<BR />policy in Italy: a high turnover of governments; coalition partners with<BR />conflicting aims; the failure of bureaucrats to learn from other member<BR />states; and politicians' lack of interest in Europe... recently however she found that matters had improved. An interdepartmental body for the coordination of EU policies has been created Parliament operates an effective scrutiny system... the administration has learnt to learn from others. But the other problems remain and they are formidable. Her study ends on an exasperated note: 'Italy appears to be stuck in the age of the Guelphs and the Ghibellines in which the victory of one faction over another is what counts and the fact that this may be damaging to the country matters little.'<BR />—from <I>The Economist</I> July 31 2010</P><BR /></DIV></P>