Present but Absent – Paganini non Ripete 288
The Absent The numbers confirm Italy’s political weakness: out of 53 key positions in the new College’s cabinets, Italy holds only three. Germany (4 heads of cabinet, 5 deputies) and France (1 head, 7 deputies) dominate, while other countries are also making strides. Italy and Spain? Nearly absent.
The Present Outside the Commissioners’ cabinets, within the various Directorate-Generals (DGs) of the Commission, Italians outnumber both French and Germans, often demonstrating competence and preparation.
- Italians account for 14.6% of the total staff—higher even than the host country Belgium (14.4%) and significantly more than the French (10.7%), Spaniards (8.7%), and Germans (6.7%).
PAGANINI NON RIPETE 287: COWS ARE INNOCENT
However, 2023 data reveals a scattered distribution of Italians across directorates, exposing the absence of a national strategy. Without coordination and a clear vision, this presence risks being ineffective.
Why It Matters To safeguard national interests, Italy must be present in the rooms where issues are anticipated and decisions are made – particularly in Brussels and within the European Commission. This is where policies that shape Europe’s economic and social frameworks, and directly affect our lives, are created.
- Unfortunately, Italy remains weak. In the Commissioners’ cabinets, where critical strategies are decided, we lag behind France, Germany, and countries from Northern and Eastern Europe.
READ FRESH IDEAS AGAINST FOOD WASTE – PNR 286
A Symbolic Role Is Not Enough Having an Executive Vice-President or a High Representative is insufficient. Without a presence in key positions, Italy cannot influence decisions. We remain in the dark until decisions are finalized, losing opportunities to safeguard strategic interests, from Made in Italy to the Mediterranean Diet.
- This fragility is further exacerbated by the centralized decision-making of President von der Leyen, who selected a weak College of Commissioners. It is urgent to position key figures in strategic roles.
READ IT AGAIN: PNR 285 – MADE IN ITALY VS FAST FOLLOWERS
Where We Are Failing Italian European Commissioners, with a few exceptions (e.g., Tajani), have failed to establish a system to consolidate Italy’s presence in Brussels. The results are clear: we are fragmented, unable to work as a team, while others move forward in unity. Why?
The Real Battle Is in the Operational Machine Beyond the Commissioners’ cabinets, the operational levels of the European Commission – where decisions and policies are interpreted and implemented – are even more significant. Italians are numerous (4424 in 2023) and often better prepared than their French and German counterparts, occupying both high and low-ranking positions.
- However, this numerical strength does not translate into an effective system. Unlike other countries, we fail to coordinate our resources to advance a common strategy. Why?
READ IT AGAIN: PNR 284 FOOD INSECURITY
Is There a National Strategy? If it exists, it doesn’t work. If it doesn’t, it must be urgently created. Italy must overcome political and partisan divisions to build a cohesive network capable of:
- Placing officials in strategic roles.
- Conducting intelligence to anticipate European moves and sharing strategic information to influence decisions in the national interest.
- Acting with Weberian determination, not passively enduring European bureaucracy but governing it.
Call to Action We can no longer afford to let others make decisions for us. It’s time to reclaim a leadership role with a strategic and coordinated presence in Brussels. Only then can we ensure a future where Italy leads, rather than watches from the sidelines.
