Europe

Italy

Economics

Italy's 10-year government bond yields briefly rose to 4.96%, the highest since 2012, after the Italian government raised its fiscal deficit targets and cut its growth forecast for 2023 and 2024, the Financial Times reported on Sept. 28.

Italy: Europe Bond Markets Rally Amid Higher-Than-Expected Deficits in Italy

Energy

Politics

Italy held the first meeting of the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear Energy, a government initiative aimed at coordinating companies and institutions across the Italian nuclear industry's value chain in areas such as safety, radioprotection and waste, which set out to define a timeframe for the possible resumption on nuclear energy production in the country, Italian press agency ANSA reported on Sept. 21.

Italy: Government Will Present Roadmap For Possible Return to Nuclear Power

China

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said his country is interested in "strengthening trade ties" with Beijing even if it withdraws from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Bloomberg reported on Sept. 4.

Italy, China: Rome Reassures Beijing Amid Likely BRI Exit

The Italian government introduced several measures that will strengthen its control over and support for strategic sectors of the economy and improve the country's attractiveness for foreign investment, la Repubblica reported on Aug. 8.

Italy: Rome Announces New Economic Powers, Partially Backtracks Bank Windfall Tax

The Italian government announced a 40% windfall tax on record-high bank profits, and the expected 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in government revenue will fund relief measures for mortgage holders struggling with rising interest rates and households coping with the cost-of-living crisis, Reuters reported on Aug. 8.

Italy: Rome Announces Surprising 40% Windfall Tax on Banks

In a substantial revision of its post-pandemic recovery plan, the Italian government announced plans to use EU pandemic recovery funds to invest around 19 billion euros ($20.95 billion) into the country's power and gas grids and its energy transition, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on July 27.

Italy: Rome to Spend EU Funds on Energy Infrastructure Revamp

Middle East and North Africa

Military & Security

Italy will lead a group of more than 20 countries from Europe, the Middle East and Africa that agreed to strengthen cooperation to tackle illegal migration across the Mediterranean Sea by cracking down on people smuggling and creating economic opportunities in the countries of departure, Reuters reported on July 23.

EU, MENA: New Initiative to Stem Illegal Migration Across Mediterranean Sea

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Italian Minister of Economic Development Adolfo Urso said the government is planning to reopen mines closed three decades ago by the end of 2023 in a bid to increase domestic production of critical raw materials in line with EU strategies, la Repubblica reported on July 13.

Italy: Rome Unveils Plans to Reopen Closed Mines to Boost Critical Raw Material Output

Columns

On Geopolitics

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni waits to welcome Bahrain's king (not pictured) at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 17, 2023. 

The most right-wing Italian government in decades has so far also proven to be one of the most stable. But that could change if Italy's economic fragility gives way to internal fractures in Meloni's coalition.

Reviewing Italy's First Year Under Meloni: From Anti-Establishment to Pragmatic

Snapshots

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Germany

Denmark

Greece

France

Sweden

Belgium

Spain

Hungary

Ukraine

Russia

Israeli and EU Flags

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A lack of a unified EU response to the Israel-Hamas War highlights divisions among member states' foreign policies, complicating the bloc's plans to play a meaningful role in the conflict, as well as efforts to maintain unified support for Ukraine.

Israel-Hamas War Highlights Divisions Among EU Member States

United States

Luxembourg

Lithuania

Malta

Finland

Latvia

Czech Republic

Estonia

Portugal

Poland

Cyprus

Austria

Slovakia

Slovenia

Netherlands

Rail cars loaded with steel sit at the ThyssenKrupp Schwelgern steel plant on May 30, 2018 in Duisburg, Germany. 

The European Union and the United States will increase efforts to deconflict their trade and climate policies ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential and EU parliamentary elections, but lingering disagreements will not allow for a complete respite of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel and aluminum.

EU-U.S. Steel and Aluminum Negotiations Make Limited Headway

Assessments

The Italian and EU flags are seen outside government buildings in Rome.

The changes would have a limited negative impact on Italy's economy, which suggests Rome's qualms are instead largely based on political calculations.

Understanding Italy's Opposition to Reforming the EU's Bailout Fund

Silvio Berlusconi leaves a polling station after voting in Italy's September 2022 snap election. The former prime minister died on June 12, 2023, at the age of 86.

The death of Italy's longest-serving prime minister marks the end of an era. But Berlusconi's legacy will live on through his enduring impact on Italian and European politics.

The Complex Legacy of Italy's Silvio Berlusconi

Brazil

India

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on May 23, 2023, in Beijing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on June 18 will visit Beijing to meet with Gang.

U.S.-China Relations

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Blinken Visits Beijing, China's Premier Goes to Germany

A photograph taken on March 16, 2023, shows Lake Serre-Poncon partially dry, near Embrun, in the French Alps. 

Social Issues

Increasingly severe droughts and water shortages brought on by climate change will serve as a multiplier for Europe's energy, agricultural, industrial and socio-economic challenges. 

Europe's Scorching Summer and Warm Winter Portend a New Normal

A red prohibition sign is superimposed over the word "ChatGPT" against a green background.

Western regulations against generative AI tools like ChatGPT may moderately slow the industry, but ongoing investor interest means these technologies will continue to develop.

Western Regulators Take Aim at ChatGPT

Angola

Mozambique

Republic of the Congo

Algeria

Egypt

Iraq

Lebanon

Libya

Tunisia

Turkey

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (2nd L) and Libya's Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah (3rd L) attend an agreement-signing ceremony between Italian multinational oil and gas company Eni and the Libyan National Oil Corporation in Tripoli, Libya, on Jan. 28, 2023.

As Europe turns away from Russian energy, Italy positions itself as a natural gas conduit between the Continent and Africa.

With Energy Deals in Africa, Italy Positions Itself as Europe's Next Gas Hub

Japan

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Economist Pierre Olivier Gourinchas speaks during a media interview at the IMF headquarters in Washington D.C. on July 26, 2022, after the institution downgraded its outlook for the global economy this year and next. 

As the effects of post-COVID reopenings wane, rising interest rates and slower economic growth may prove particularly problematic for highly indebted countries like Italy.

After a Brief Reprieve, Debt Levels in Many Advanced Economies Are Set to Rise

EU flags fly outside the headquarters of the European Commission on Feb. 23, 2022, in Brussels, Belgium. 

Brexit, COVID-19 and the Ukraine crisis have increased the influence of southern and eastern EU members to the detriment of traditionally more influential countries in the north.

The EU's Shifting Balance of Power

Canada

United Kingdom

Officials from Germany, Ghana, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the African Union, the European Union, France, the United States and Kenya participate in a working session at a G-7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Muenster, western Germany, on Nov. 4, 2022. 

The world’s most developed economies are generally poised to ride out the impending global recession -- with debt-ridden Italy being the one possible exception.

Assessing the Risk of Debt Crises in G-7 Countries

<p>Italy is a peninsular country in southern Europe that borders France, Switzerland, Austria&nbsp;and&nbsp;Slovenia. Two independent states, Vatican City and San Marino, exist within its territory. The country is mountainous, with the Apennines stretching the length of the peninsula and the Alps acting as a natural barrier between Italy and its neighbors. It also has the two largest islands in the Mediterranean, Sicily&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sardinia. Italy&#39;s core is the Po Valley, one of the most prosperous regions in Europe and the heart of the industrial north. The southern part of the country has a more agricultural profile and has traditionally been less developed. Italy&#39;s capital, Rome, was once the heart of a sprawling empire, which stretched over much of Europe, North Africa&nbsp;and&nbsp;the Levant.</p><p>After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the late 5th century, Italy was fragmented into small kingdoms, republics&nbsp;and&nbsp;duchies. Italy&#39;s privileged position in the heart of the Mediterranean and the wealth of its economic centers made the peninsula a territory of constant invasion, from Germanic tribes in the 5th century to the French, Austrian and Spanish empires in the 18th and 19th centuries. Moreover, Italy&#39;s rugged geography led to the development of strong regional identities. As a result, the country didn&#39;t achieve political unity until the 1860s. Italy&#39;s main geographic challenge is to preserve its territorial unity and develop a relatively stable central government while dealing with strong regional interests and fractious political forces. The eurozone crisis has intensified this challenge.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Italy: Europe Bond Markets Rally Amid Higher-Than-Expected Deficits in Italy

Italy: Government Will Present Roadmap For Possible Return to Nuclear Power

Italy, China: Rome Reassures Beijing Amid Likely BRI Exit

Italy: Rome Announces New Economic Powers, Partially Backtracks Bank Windfall Tax

Italy: Rome Announces Surprising 40% Windfall Tax on Banks

Italy: Rome to Spend EU Funds on Energy Infrastructure Revamp

EU, MENA: New Initiative to Stem Illegal Migration Across Mediterranean Sea

Italy: Rome Unveils Plans to Reopen Closed Mines to Boost Critical Raw Material Output

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