Italy: Italy's 21st Century Reformation Back in the driving seat

With renewed confidence, Italy is seeing the knock-on result of an ambitious reform schedule. The country is taking the lead to shape a new European vision and has emerged as a crucial diplomatic and geostrategic player in the Mediterranean region

The eighth biggest economy, the fifth most popular tourism destination, and the undisputed world capital of the three F’s (fashion, furniture and food), the Italian treasury is buoyed by an exceptional luxury manufacturing sector, and the major number of UNESCO heritage sites on the planet.

Hit hard by the Great Recession of 2008 which obliterated 6% of the country’s GDP, Italy is at last emerging from its longest economic crisis.

“Italy, a country enriched by an extraordinary history, has always been at the forefront of innovation and is today engaged in seizing the opportunities of new endeavors. The Italian economy, traditionally strong and competitive in a lot of industrial sectors, will benefit from reforms and new investments,” says Italy’s Ambassador to the U.S., Armando Varricchio.

With unquestionable energy and determination Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (pictured to the right with President Obama) is working to avoid an extra period of economic stalemate such as that which the country struggled through between 2000 and 2008, and is helping Italy rediscover its confidence in the international arena using a steady stream of economic and bureaucratic reforms.

Addressing these bottlenecking national structures which have in the completed slowed the economy down, whilst emphasizing exports backed by the ‘Made in Italy’ seal has led to a healthy positive trade balance of almost €45.2 billion ($50.7 billion).

The initial issue to be taken on was the rigidity of the labor market. Through the government’s introduction of the Jobs Act, the government has entirely streamlined the process of hiring workers. Giuliano Poletti, Minister of Labor and Social Policy, says that the law created 750,000 permanent contracts of employment last year and infused Italy’s labor market with some much-needed flexibility.

“The law represented a cultural change. We shifted from a system that exclusively protected employees within their work place to a additional flexible system which responds to the dynamic marketplace,” Mr. Poletti says.

The young, who have traditionally seen their careers hindered by the overprotection of senior professionals, stand a lot to gain from this change in legislation.

Next to be tackled was Italy’s congested justice system, which has been chronically plagued by inefficiency and red tape. Under the changes introduced by Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando, the number of trials in the country has been reduced from 6 million to 4.2 million.

In addition, the civil justice reform has sped up legal proceedings and Italy has leapt 13 places in the World Bank’s Relieve of Doing Business rankings for settlements of commercial disputes. This offers reassurance to U.S. investors, who see “the slow pace of Italy’s civil justice system as the number one issue”, according to U.S. Ambassador to Italy, John Phillips.

Mr. Renzi’s vision as well translated into the Unlock Italy Decree, an extra piece of legislation that seeks to soften fiscal stringency in order to promote investment in public infrastructure, transport and real estate. This looks set to bridge the gap between Italy’s powerful northern economy and under-developed south, which will unite and drive economic increase.

Rejuvenated Italian assertiveness is particularly visible in their dealings with the EU, where Mr. Renzi has defied the doctrine of austerity heralded by Germany and other northern European nations. He frequently cites the U.S. as an example of how to overcome an economic crisis. In an open letter to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Mr. Renzi said, “During the completed eight years of democratic presidency, the United States has bet on increase, investment and innovation, while Europe was betting on austerity and strictness. From an economic standpoint the United States is faring better than they were eight years ago. Europe is faring worse.”

The Italian Prime Minister as well wants to see change in how migratory flows towards Europe are dealt with. His country is the major entry point for both economic migrants and refugees, critically testing its ability to cope, and from presently on propelling the country’s international standing as a pivotal diplomatic and geostrategic ally of the United States in the Mediterranean region. EU solidarity with Italy and other Mediterranean members seems to be in short supply however.

The Migration Compact proposed by Italy to its EU partners is a holistic Europe-Africa approach to fund projects in Africa, as a means of boosting the continent’s economic development and mitigating economic reasons for making the trip to Europe. Other mechanisms would serve to finance security and African partners’ internal migration management.

While focusing on its non-military role, the government does not want to shy away from hard power. Nearby destabilizing threats such as the situation in Syria or Libya – the latter a formerly close Italian ally – have led Italy to start readying and modernizing its armed forces.

Roberta Pinotti, Italian Minister of Defense, says that her country’s national contingent is the initial in Europe in terms of contribution to EU military operations inclunding to UN missions. Its armed forces are as well engaged in the international coalition against ISIS.

The security priority is, however, Italy’s own neighborhood: “We will not decline our participation and commitment to missions in additional distant areas, but since the Mediterranean is where the harshest conflicts are happening today, we are convinced Italy must become a reference actor for the security missions carried out in the whole area”, Ms. Pinotti says.
“Italy has always been at the forefront of innovation and is today engaged in seizing the opportunities of new endeavors. The Italian economy, traditionally strong and competitive in a lot of industrial sectors, will benefit from reforms and new investments”

Armando Varricchio, Italian Ambassador to the U.S.

It seems clear that this resurging Italy is securing a bigger say in world affairs. Its election, along with The Netherlands, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2017-2018 is proof of the country’s growing international acceptance as a key interlocutor in the security issues that matter most to the world.

Mario Giro, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, says Italy’s election to the UNSC role proves that the Italian foreign policy “has changed dramatically in the last few years”. What the world can expect from Italy is, in his view, “a crucial role in facilitating dialogue in areas characterized by high political instability”.

As Italy makes its voice heard internationally, its bilateral relationship with the U.S. is expected to remain central, as it has been since the end of World War II.

“We work closely on matters of international security, protecting human rights, promoting economic increase, safeguarding the environment and supporting the work of the United Nations,” says Ambassador Varricchio. “This enduring alliance is enriched daily with culture, innovation, and high-tech.”

Last year Italy was the U.S.’ 10th major trading partner. Fortunately, reforms are by presently ushering in palpable changes. U.S. Ambassador Phillips has noticed them, and thinks they are bearing fruit: “Sustained evolution will turn into additional interest from U.S. investors. By presently in 2016, Apple, Cisco, GE, and IBM have announced major projects in Italy.”