Italy

Abstract

Italy was one of the six original founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and Euratom in the 1950s. Post-war Italian elites strongly supported and promoted European integration, highlighting the need for direct universal elections to the European Parliament (EP). From 1979, when the first Euro election finally took place until the early 1990s, Italy was characterised by pro-European coalition governments led by the Christian democrats. After the ‘Mani pulite’ (Clean Hands) Operation, which unveiled corruption at the highest levels of politics and business, the political landscape was radically transformed and an emerging new political class showed less enthusiasm for Europe.

I dedicate this chapter to my beloved father Francesco and my uncles Ilde and Vittorio. I am grateful to many officials of EP who kindly provided me with useful information, in particular Clara Albani, Manuela Conti, Iride Marossero and Daniel Ratcliffe.