aac nlsES07:4Dossier13/9/0711:11Página153 ingles balance 5 stegiigfaeokt drs rssin crises address to framework guiding multilateralism the on emphasis as renewed a put to try Council, international will Security UN other the of the member of permanent and non- As UN resolution. conflict in especially the organisations, of role of the reinforcement the and multilateralism, of European the centrality also its its reaffirmed has to towards government Prodi’s back partners. sensitivity shifted between traditional priorities balance more policy the 2006, foreign of Italy’s spring the in Prodi Romano led President Commission government European centre-left former the by of election Israel. the of the support With US on by influenced strongly was conflict focus that East Middle the on position a to Middle as well traditional broader as East, the of favour in country’s Basin Mediterranean the away moving Iraq, from in government’s intervention the military to of led support raising profile for search international Italy’s centre-right’s the concerned, is Mediterranean the as far As Brussels. searching in consensus on for than rather positions Washington’s on strongly more modelled were these interests Italy’s shift. of this order the recognise not did rhetoric official though inverted priorities, even somewhat had 2006) Berlusconi centre-right United government The (2001-States. the with relations good maintaining and Union European the within role important an evaluated playing of be consist to need priorities other all which policy against foreign Italian of priorities overarching two The Mediterranean the Towards Policy Italy’s in Changes Introduction: (CeSPI), Politics International in Studies for Centre Researchers Cugusi Battistina Balfour Rosa the to Mediterranean Italy of Return The | Politics Mediterranean Europe ttdta teMdtraenrpeet h priority” the Parliament, represents Mediterranean European “the that the stated at given speech a in Prodi, 2006 during the Mediterranean in Interests and Priorities Italy’s measured. the were and positions political different priorities and these East which terrain on important an Middle constituted centre-left have broader Mediterranean the of The months 9 government. the during failures and successes Italy’s determining factors also the of has one but been between governments, Prodi discontinuity and key Berlusconi the the marked only not has positions these between interaction the words, other In coalition centre-left Washington. with relationship ambiguous governing more a the have of profound parts any US, with imply the relationship not long-standing Italy’s does of questioning shift this Although internal for cohesion. justification political external an providing as best as well the profile), international as country’s the (seen promote to forums way international thus major EU the the in and participation Italy’s ensuring UN of renewed purpose dual the the serves The to Parliament. attributed in importance holds that – centre-left conflict internal the by wrought it – majority ideology; slim together the by hold to supposed solely is that dictated glue the constitutes not is position This East. Middle the and Afghanistan oiia oiin eemeasured were positions political different and priorities these which on terrain important an constituted have Mediterranean the and East Middle The

153 Med. 2007 Panorama aac nlsES07:4Dossier13/9/0711:11Página154 ingles balance 5

154 Med. 2007 Panorama h rbwrdadi atclrwt sai moderate with Islamic with dialogue particular in launch and world to Arab the need the stressed has been who have These states. Arab Minister Foreign D’Alema, Massimo the strengthened by the with its relations web to of developed a compared has Rome commitments, Mediterranean declared the to dedicated foreign insufficient resources country’s characterised by been the has policy though even level, bilateral a At by supported government. not previous but the Commission President European as the mandate of his during Prodi by proposed already – mechanism lending autonomous an Partnership (FEMIP) and Investment Facility the Euro-Mediterranean make for to partners EU its on pressure put to budget the of the framework continuing of also the Euro-Mediterranean is Partnership, Italy Within share ENP. the these for substantial earmarked that a ensure to receive 2006 would during then and South, immediate country’s the resources and and Europe Eastern attention between political EU of distribution a ensure to to aim the the first NeighbourhoodEuropean with in Policy countries lobbied Mediterranean also Southern the has the include hand, Affairs other Foreign the of On Ministry Turkey). to to and enlargement Balkans further the for support its (hence region interests European Southeast its broad the consolidated with especially ties has and Italy overcome. hand been one large the On and by has or policies eastern southern EU supporting between dilemma Rome’s (ENP). Policy Neighbourhood European its strongly and is Euro-Mediterranean policies EU’s Partnership (EMP) the to tied for Mediterranean framework its reference developing the resources, of scarcity the and weaknesses in structural its Basin given interests However, region. Mediterranean longstanding the country’s on the focus reflects a to return Mediterranean. This the Canal through Suez go the thus through go and Europe and East Far the of Ministry commercial between since flows Affairs,Foreign 2006), (Italian should platform” Euro-Asian Mediterranean the become “the order: global geo-economic emerging the in Mediterranean the a for envisages role new government The policy. foreign Italy’s of nteregion the in interests longstanding country’s the reflects the Basin on Mediterranean focus a to return This oenet ’lm osdr h oeof should negotiations as role which Map through Road the the framework and the Quartet considers the previous the multilateralism, D’Alema with key contrast as In government, conflict stability. East Middle regional the centrality to of the on resolution the emphasis has of renewed Italy a interests, placed also longstanding these Alongside for associations. which banking and Minister Bonino), Emma enterprise Italian main the enterprises Italian gathered and 200 the Commerce (with International Forum Casablanca the in Economic business participated a it Algeria; of in creation medium- network the and for small and enterprises of sized development with the agreement for an Algeria supported market, has energy government the the in involved enterprises large the alongside interests, economic developing of terms In economic cooperation. and political social, of strategy broader part a as of migration illegal of containment the see would last which approach agreed, an of development countries the on two November, the of the Ministers Morocco, Foreign With smuggling. human combating in forces police between cooperation a for of force task creation joint the with relaunched recently been have After Libya. through countries deterioration, two some the relations between especially Africa, from Southern coasts Italy’s on arrive that flows migration illegal of containment the regards Italy for dossier crucial Another hydrocarbons. of distribution the on Sonatrach and an Edison to between led agreement important instance, for 2006, November in Bouteflika and Prodi between meeting diplomatic A Algeria. and Libya with especially countries, supplying energy with relations maintaining to Group’, ‘5+5 the and Mediterranean Dialogue NATO EMP, the alliances, and issues security to attributed importance the from reiterated, range which been also have the priorities traditional sustain Other and 2006). encourage to Giovannelli, countries (De these democratic order potential of in forces, Libya through especially Africa, from coasts Southern Italy’s on arrive that flows migration illegal of containment the regards Italy for dossier crucial Another aac nlsES07:4Dossier13/9/0711:11Página155 ingles balance 5 rae yteU euiyCuclRslto 425 Resolution Council Security Lebanon UN South the of in by force created reinforcement monitoring a UN for (the UNIFIL called which UN 2006, 11th the August on to adopted 1701, led Resolution Council proposal UN Security This a of force. framework military the peacekeeping the in in crisis, role the of leading EU management a the take pushing to to by solution States stakes Member political the raised a Italy find crisis, to the order the in and Bank) Secretary-General World UN for the Representative Policy, High Foreign the and Presidency (Arab EU the parties relevant Commission, European the States, the 2006, Member EU States, July negotiation 26 to and on Rome bringing in organisations Lebanon on international conference multilateral the hosting the After available. instruments most the to exploiting military, and political both was strategy Italy’s 2007). (Cerretelli, in Berlusconi government the prestige of years regaining five the after Europe, EU the in role stronger a would it play that expectations widespread the to up live to crisis countrymanaged Lebanese the com- which in the area represented only the in successful authoritative involvement a one Italy’s mentator, to proved According risks, endeavour. military and political numerous posed recover have could to which gamble, D’Alema’s view, of opportunity point this the From Brussels. in by credibility national as well support as to need the Lebanon, the on Affairs in Foreign of leading Ministry role a the on and within belief widespread a taking by both determined ambitions of was role choice Italy’s The of Mediterranean. case test representsa 2006 of summer the in Lebanon in war The Lebanon of Test The Palestinian EU East. Middle the the the to on more and position once country Israel the aligning between Authority, place take nEurope role in stronger a play would it that expectations the widespread to up live to country managed the which in area only the represented crisis Lebanese the in involvement Italy’s ecinfrse yte“eesegstss,EU tasks”, “Petersberg’s the by foreseen its reaction rapid of support mechanisms existing the to actor. deploying of international Instead created autonomous has an it as development toolbox the using its of opportunity strengthen an lost to remains it East, Middle managed the East vis-à-vis position in EU Middle Italy the and If the EU questionable. and the of Mediterranean role stronger the a commitment to this lead which could to extent the Nonetheless, Iraq 2006). in (Fisher, commitments Afghanistan military and its to due conflict the the resolution of for the leading compensate in States to United way the of a absence as readiness also its troops send public to international the to justifying by Washington, with relationship its nourish to also crisis Lebanese the in role unexpected its on capitalised Italy troops. 8,000 almost Lebanon, with in force peacekeeping the UN the EU of the backbone make helped and hesitations perseverance initial as the Rome’s overcome force, Israel. by peacekeeping the proposed of command assume to accepting and ‘Leonte‘) (Operation soldiers 3,000 committing by Lebanon with It border northern Israel’s to role. troops sending lead to valuable reluctance the Germany’s a and taking militarily to played resistance France’s Italy to effort, responded latter this In troops. providing by forces UNIFIL the reinforcement of member the to the contribute to supported willingness states’ and the population to Council relief Lebanese humanitarian Security bringing UN 1701 of Resolution implementation supporting rapid in role the key a play to will EU’s the reiterated 2006 August diplomatic 25th of position further common The in contacts. Solana High Javier the of Israel, Representative engagement in the Troika and Lebanon the and of Gaza mission already the the to EU, solution through lasting a conflict, the find to by efforts the in expressed engaged 1701 immediately Resolution of was the implementation of the to deployment Support the Lebanon. Southern assist to to army Lebanese order in 1978) in troops 8,000 almost with Lebanon, in force peacekeeping UN the backbone of the EU the make and hesitations initial the overcome helped perseverance Rome’s

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intervention has been possible only by creating an with the previous government’s foreign policy, with ad hoc coalition under the flag of the UN. Italy too part of the coalition favouring a bipartisan foreign would need to persevere in the maintenance of policy and another keen to underline change. This diplomatic, military, political and economic resources article has tried to illustrate the changes in emphasis if it wants to reap the benefits of its role in the that the centre-left government has entailed, through Lebanese crisis. In any case, the Italian Minister of the withdrawal from Iraq while seeking to reassure Foreign Affairs D’Alema has recognised the need the US of Italy’s international commitments, by to define a long-term strategy which goes beyond returning to a more active involvement in the the UNIFIL and concerns the entire region. In Mediterranean and by maintaining its military presence particular, the Lebanese crisis can not be overcome in Afghanistan. Despite these discontinuities between without taking into account the conflict between the Berlusconi and Prodi governments, they both Israel and Palestine, and the resumption of nego- share the structural problems of limited resources, tiations between Israel and Syria. weak coordination of the many actors involved in promoting Italy’s interests abroad, and a weak Panorama economic and political backbone supporting foreign Conclusions: policy. The Problems of a Middle-Sized Power Bibliography In February 2007 D’Alema gave a speech to the Senate

2007 that outlined a vision for Italy’s foreign policy that CERRETELLI, Adriana. ‘Il fragile europeismo di un suggested that the government had been developing Governo europeista’, Il Sole 24 Ore, 17 January Med. a strategy that rests on short as well as long-term 2007. objectives, interests and an analysis of priorities. It is DE GIOVANNELLI, Umberto. ‘D’Alema: Italia protagonista thus ironic that that speech led to a government crisis perché ha puntato su ONU e Ue’, L’Unità, 4 (that was eventually contained). The absence of a September 2006. long-term strategy has been historically one of the FISHER, Ian. ’Italy’s peacekeeping offer signals shift 156 reasons behind Italy’s weaknesses in translating its in its foreign policy’, New York Times, 30 August interests and priorities into policy. 2006. Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “L’Italia ed il dialogo The absence of a long-term strategy euromediterraneo”. Dossier Farnesina, pp. 32, has been historically one of the October/November 2006. www.esteri.it/doc_dossier/ reasons behind Italy’s weaknesses dossier_euromed/mediterraneo.pdf . PRODI, Romano. “L’Italia dell’Unione in Europa e nel in translating its interests and mondo”, Speech given at the , priorities into policy 1 February 2006. www.romanoprodi.it/cgi- bin/adon.cgi?act= doc&doc=793&sid=5. One of the issues of contention, alongside Italy’s role Senato della Repubblica. ‘Discorso di Massimo in Afghanistan, was precisely the degree to which D’Alema’, 21 February 2007. the centre-left government has marked a discontinuity www.massimodalema.it