A recent political crisis in Italy led to a new government emerging, with former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi as prime minister. As ever, questions have arisen about what Italy will do next. In the days following his appointment, Draghi made clear that he wanted a pro-European cabinet with a transatlantic vocation. He brought Luigi di Maio and Lorenzo Guerini both back as foreign affairs and defence ministers respectively, a move that was intended to convey continuity and reassurance to allies and the broader international community.
During this time, the incoming Draghi cabinet faces mammoth task of expanding Italy’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, drafting Italy’s formal request for EU Recovery funds and promoting further reforms to the educational, health and public administration sectors. Setting guidelines for an efficient ecological transition, advancing digitalisation and more general efforts to promote macroeconomic stability in a country that had yet to recover from the 2008 financial crisis when the COVID-19 pandemic hit early last year, also figure at the top of the new government’s agenda.
Italian security agency in full concert with the PM reiterate that the future of European defence cannot be separated from solid transatlantic integration.
Italy wants to build up its own defence capabilities in the context of a wider European cooperation project.
However, Rome also holds the deep conviction that the transatlantic relationship is essential for guaranteeing it a geopolitical position in tune with its ambitions and technology base.
Italy’s policymakers should avoid getting distracted by current, and inevitable future, political crises. They must keep focused on the medium-term improvements needed for Italy’s defence and on priorities relating to strategy and tools. This would help Rome to play a relevant, more systemic role at the European level and for it to be a reliable partner to NATO and EU allies, while legitimately pursuing its own interests, no matter who is in the driving seat. This is the MarioDraghi’s idea, to crate a new political class for the future of Italy, that can maintain also when his mandate will go off. Appoint key people in power who can hold fast to the Italian foreign policy in the near future.
The EU “needs to work on concrete proposals for a ‘positive agenda’ that fosters a constructive dynamic, including in terms of regional stability,” Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi told lawmakers.
Premier Mario Draghi said that US President Joe Biden’s address to the EU summit Thursday “was very important, he really brought new air, fresh air in US-EU relations”.
Draghi said Biden “reaffirmed that the pillar of American foreign policy is the EU. In a previous time, it was said that the US looked to the east, to Asia, it was in an equidistant position. Today no, there is a single fundamental ally and it is the EU”.
Draghi also said: “the previous US administration, on the issue of taxing digital multinationals, was in total closure, but now the new administration has opened to international accords for the taxation of digital companies”.
In his video address to the virtual summit Thursday, Biden reaffirmed close US-EU ties, especially over vaccine cooperation.
Draghi said that “Italy had been the first country in the EU to raise the issue of putting restrictions on the export of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Now, unfortunately, it is an issue that everyone is focused on,” he added.
“The criteria announced by the Commission is, in part, a modification of the previous criteria,” Draghi said.
“Beforehand, the only condition for a ban on the exports of a certain vaccine was the failure to respect a contract by a company.
“Yesterday, the Commission extended the criteria introducing the words proportionality and reciprocity.
Italy aims to vaccinate at least 80% of its population against COVID-19 by the end of September, according to the government.
Mr. Draghi recalled Italy’s honor and duty of chairing the G20 and the climate COP26 summit (together with the UK). Rome’s line is hinged on the three pillars of “people, planet, prosperity,” he remarked before borrowing a line straight out of Mr Biden’s campaign promise, vowing to “build back better” by defeating the pandemic and relaunching a green and sustainable growth ” to everyone’s benefit. “
He then singled out Italy’s ties with Germany and France as the two key relations to “restructure and reinforce” in light of the heavy trading volumes and integrated economies that exist. Moreover, he vowed to consolidate collaborations with Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus, all fellow Mediterranean countries who share migratory and environmental issues.
We have to remember the high issue in Mediterranean zoneat this moment with Russia and Turkey in front of the italian borders with troops in Libya who engage the 2 different libyan government.
Italy is located in the middle of the Mediterranean, the last European border before “Chaos Land”.
The natural role for Rome would be, if it will really follow the doctrina of Mr. Draghi, to be the best partner to US for control all the Intability zone of North Africa and Mediterrean by France collaboration of course.
For France an alliance between the eurozone’s second and third-largest economies in favour of greater solidarity and stimulus might seem natural, but has been elusive. During the eurozone debt crisis, France was reluctant to detach itself from Berlin and align itself with other Mediterranean countries lest it widened the risk spread between French treasury bonds and German Bunds. In this historical momentIt gives the French leader a partner in Rome who is a powerful and credible advocate of closer European integration just at the time when Germany prepares for a change in leadership.
The first diplomatic mission for Mr. Draghi as PM, will be in Libya to strengthen the stretegic relationship between the two states, a big signal on the new italian road in Mediterranean.
The most likely immediate scenario, therefore, will be in the middle term to see a Italy more aggressive in the geopolitical system to enforce its national interests.
2021 could be the the perfect storm In european union for Italy.
Merkel are closing her last year as PM, with a lot of internal issue in Germany, Macron has the same trouble in France, so Mario Draghi could be the Guide to follow by a lot of european states during this period of pandemia and econoimic crisis.
Draghi knows probably better than anyone what needs to be done to seize this once in a lifetime opportunity to face the country’s long-lived weaknesses
On the other hand, Italy will work towards dialogue with the Russian Federation. However, in this regard, the premier highlighted that the current executive is following “with concern” what is happening in Russia and in other countries where citizens’ rights are often violated. In this regard, Draghi stressed that Italy is also monitoring the increase in tensions in Asia, around China and Myanmar.
In this regard, Italy’s multilateral efforts could also support the U.S. and the EU as they seek to balance competition with cooperation vis-à-vis China and Russia.
Draghi will certainly be at ease in such formats, in the same time the EU and the broader international community appreciate Draghi’s record and experience.
A win win road for everyone, we hope….
