WTI Magazine #37    2014 July, 2
Author : Francesca Papasergi      Translation by:

According to the Union procedure, Italy started guiding the Council of the European Union on july 1st. The presidency of the Council of the EU rotates every six months among member countries: the Council of the EU is the institution representing the member states' governments, and should not be confused with the European Council (another EU institution) and the Council of Europe - not an EU body. So, when you thought that the Italian system was hard to understand, maybe not all of you were considering the EU, right?

Apparently, the Italian semester – which practically is a cycle of economic policies coordination, assessed in Brussels first before they are adopted by member states -couldn't have taken off better. Mr. Renzi looks optimistic and keeps claiming that this is a train Italy can't miss. Even Mrs. Merkel seems to be impressed by Mr. Renzi's enthusiasm.

Mr. Renzi's reforms program brought him to Palazzo Chigi and then to the European Union, and it hasn't been completely explained yet. Nonetheless the EU, precisely Mrs. Merkel, approves the path that Italy is not following with Mr. Renzi's leadership.

After Mr. Jean Claude Juncker's (from Luxembourg) nomination (by the European Council) at the Presidency of the European Commission (the Executive arm of the EU), and the re-election of the German Mr. Martin Shultz as Chairman of the European Parliament (the Legislative arm of the EU), now everything is up to Italy.

The Italian Democratic Party's weight in Europe is high, after the full victory on last may European elections, and Mr. Renzi can count on a numerous group of representatives in the European Parliament.

We cannot know what the results of the Italian semester will be. Change takes time, Mr. Renzi's is short. He can ignite a new deal for Europe. Come on Italy, you can make it.