Italy in the EU: A call for strategic change – La Prealpina – Pietro Paganini
My latest commentary has been published in La Prealpina, the historic newspaper of the Alto Milanese. The piece highlights a troubling reality: Italy’s marginal presence in key decision-making roles within the European Commission. Despite our country’s strong numerical representation among Commission staff, this does not translate into actual influence. Below is a summary of the article’s main points.
The opinion piece is available here on La Prealpina. A summary is available here below.
Italy in the EU: A call for strategic change
The new European Commission numbers present a concerning scenario for Italy. Out of 53 key positions in the Commissioners’ cabinets, Italians occupy only 3 seats, compared to Germany’s 9 and France’s 8. This discrepancy goes beyond mere statistics – it underscores a significant political weakness that sidelines Italy from Europe’s core decision-making processes.
While Italians make up 14.6% of the Commission’s workforce, a percentage that surpasses even host country Belgium, they are often scattered across various Directorates-General (DGs) without strategic coordination. This lack of a cohesive national vision prevents Italy from leveraging its considerable human capital effectively, especially when compared to the structured, unified approaches of France and Germany.
The real power resides in the Commissioners’ cabinets, where critical European policies are shaped. France and Germany ensure their dominance by placing key figures in top roles. Italy, on the other hand, remains a passive observer, despite having individuals in high-profile positions, such as Commissioners and Vice Presidents, whose potential influence remains underutilized.
The commentary emphasizes that this issue is not just technical – it’s profoundly political. Italy must shift its approach by strategically placing key personnel in influential roles within both cabinets and pivotal DGs. Proactive intelligence, anticipatory decision-making, and a cohesive national network involving institutions, politicians, and officials are essential for safeguarding Italian interests.
Italy has the talent and numbers to be a leading player in Europe. What it lacks is a clear, unified strategy to harness this potential. To move from mere presence to active leadership, Italy must overcome internal divisions and adopt the same determination demonstrated by its European counterparts. The time to act is now.
