Burlesquoni
Behind Silvio Berlusconi's antics, has Italy's attitude to the European Union changed more deeply?
STRANGE as it may seem, there was a time when European federalists looked keenly forward to Italy's presidency of the European Union. The Italians have traditionally been among the most ardent promoters of European unity. The EU traces its origins to the Treaty of Rome in 1957. And it was during an Italian presidency in 1990 that Margaret Thatcher was cornered at a summit and forced to agree to the negotiations that led to the Maastricht treaty and thence to the creation of a European currency and foreign policy. From the federalist viewpoint, another Italian presidency looked ideal for the final stage of negotiations, starting in October, to clinch a European constitution.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Burlesquoni”
From the July 12th 2003 edition
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