Italy

Abstract

In answer to the question, ‘what influence do the political groups of the European Parliament have on their Italian counterparts?’ one could say — not without a touch of malice — hardly any, and often, none at all. But however valid this judgement may be at first sight, it is inadequate and somewhat unjust in the light of a deeper analysis. It can help us, nevertheless, to understand the persistent difficulties of a sound evaluation of the problems of the European Community in general, and of the role and importance of the European Parliament in particular. Furthermore, it is evidence of the attitude or, better still, the approach of the national political forces: one position at the European level and another — often the opposite — at the national level. Another aspect that will be considered is the wide disparity over time in the positions taken by some political forces. It is now hard to imagine the original total opposition of the Italian Left (Communists and Socialists) to the European Community. In the case of the Socialist Party (PSI), however, the opposition was to the way in which the Community was born and not to the idea of European unification as such.