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EUROPEAN REVIEW

ISSUE 7 - Page 10

Italians say 'Si' to the Euro

Maria Irace is full time education officer at CISL (Italian equivalent to the British T.U.C.) responsible for European training. She regularly travels to meetings and conferences throughout Europe. Here she analyses the particularly Italian view of the single currency.

Italians are proud of being part, from the beginning, of 'Euroland', as it is known. Probably the most proud people in Europe. Company managers, trade unions, government, political opposition, intellectuals, workers and rich people, all citizens were happy when Mr Ciampi , at that time Finance Minister, showed to the media the first euro at the beginning of the new year. There is the assumption that we won a big struggle to be there, that everyone contributed to it by paying from their own pocket for it. The 'tax for Europe' was not popular with ordinary citizens, as with all taxes, but probably was more understandable than any other tax. The challenge was clear. The objective too.

But why did Italians want so much to take part in it? What are the advantages? Firstly, the challenge put by the European institutions to all member countries was accepted by Italian citizens: to be 'IN' or to be 'OUT' meant to be fully part of the biggest developed economic area in the world or to be excluded from that.

And the exclusion would have meant a progressive decline of our economy, towards the situation of the under-developed countries in North Africa that Italy has on its 'borders'. Even now, government is still demonstrating the positive effect of Italy's participation in the EURO, with the argument that we escaped from a dangerous destiny of instability and decadence. People feel it is true.

Maria Irace

The role that Italy played in the Kosovo war demonstrated that now we are really able to take part as one of the four main European countries not just because of number of citizens or because of 'geo-politics' , but because we too could be reliable and consistent in European terms. Secondly, there was the clear feeling that this was the last opportunity offered to Italy, a compulsory opportunity given from outside the country, to overcome decades of 'misplaced financial optimism' ('finanze allegre'). Being obliged by European convergence criteria to 'balance' the State budget - or at least to start this process - Italian financial institutions have done something really surprising in a very short time; something that would never have been possible without an 'external' obligation. And Italians feel now more secure in their own country, that is a bit more similar to solid and strong countries like Germany or France. This has a high cost, in terms of economic rigour, but it seems it has been accepted as a more 'rational' and modern way of governing the country . Coming just after the 'Clean Hands' ('Mani Pulite') sleaze affair, this challenge was seen as a way of overcoming also the previous method of governing , by means of corruption and subterfuge.

On the Borderline

But the pride of being in 'Euroland' is not just a financial or economic question. It is, so to speak, a question of 'civilisation' too. Italy is always a country 'on the border-line' between two possible destinies. Being in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, there are two attractions: to the south shore and its opportunities (economic links with Middle East and north African countries) but also instabilities and conflicts; and to central Europe with its stability, rigour and strength. The strongest has always been towards the North and Centre. The Italian option for Europe was very clear from the beginning of the European project. But Italy at the same time has always played the role of 'connecting' Europe to the Mediterranean area. And even now, when it has chosen to link itself to the North, Italy sees its own role as a country that has to remind Europe about the values and the opportunities that the South can offer. A specific role that just Italy can play, much more than Spain, for example, because of its history and political networks. If the southern Mediterranean remains politically unstable and economically weak- Italy says to Europe - the entire European Union will be affected and the consequences could be dangerous.

Open Vision

In this sense, Italians have a more open vision of what the European Union is, or should be: not a fortress for rich countries always in debt to the power of the USA, but a hub of strength that operates in the international context for peace and development. So, if the EURO is the condition to guide European countries to this objective, welcome to the EURO. This is no more just a financial issue, but a tool to achieve political objectives. This is the reason why we consider that, sooner or later, even the U.K. and Sweden have to become part of 'Euroland', together with Greece and Denmark.

The Web site of the Italian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions (CISL) is at :

http://www.cisl.it

Leonardo II confirmed

The council of education which consists of the education ministers from all the EU Member States has formally adopted the programme which will continue the vocational training scheme from the year 2000. A total of €1.5 billion has been allocated. it will be focused on the 'knowledge society', life-long learning and the use of information technologies. It will also offer co-operation to the countries of eastern and central Europe. The President of the Council, Edelgard Bulmahn, said, 'Leonardo II will generate new impetus for cross-border co-operation in the area of vocational training in Europe'.

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But why did Italians want so much to take part in it? What are the advantages? Firstly, the challenge put by the European institutions to all member countries was accepted by Italian citizens: to be 'IN' or to be 'OUT' meant to be fully part of the biggest developed economic area in the world or to be excluded from that.		And the exclusion would have meant a progressive decline of our economy, towards the situation of the under-developed countries in North Africa that Italy has on its 'borders'. Even now, government is still demonstrating the positive effect of Italy's participation in the EURO, with the argument that we escaped from a dangerous destiny of instability and decadence. People feel it is true.
	Maria Irace