ITALIAN INTEREST REPRESENTATION IN BRUSSELS

Although nearly 4,000 persons are estimated to represent Italian interests in Brussels, Italian public policy advocacy methods suffer from the structural problems of the Italian system. Italian public policy advocacy work reflects the fragmentation and the parochial nature of Italian interests.

Some Italian entities use effectively the networks they find in Brussels and cooperate effectively transmitting information and widely communicating among themselves: Telecom Italia, Confindustria, the Tuscany Regional government, the National Research Council (CNR), ENI, Unioncamere are particularly active in developing networks, also with non-Italian organisations. But most Italian entities operate primarily through informal and purely Italian networks. Too often action is left to the goodwill of the representatives of Italy’s advocacy groups. Italian corporations act largely on the basis of personal trust vested in their representative, but Italy, as a system is absent and fails to follow them.

It is therefore natural that Italian public policy advocacy is perceived by the European institutions as piecemeal and fragmented, addressing narrow and parochial cases, situations, needs and expectations some of which are even in conflict with each other.

There is a large number of small, weak advocacy entities and despite a few important exceptions, Italian public policy advocacy is viewed as lacking in preparation and specialization, often irrelevant to the context and timing in which it takes place. The effectiveness of Italian public policy advocacy is hampered by a lack of insistence and method, by poor technical preparation and by language and cultural limitations.

There are few Italian public policy advocates acting on the basis of a strategy agreed with non-Italian parties who share the same interests. Frequently, Italian public policy advocates expect a need for something rather than an interest in developing a strategy to acquire it. In such cases the effectiveness of their work is often thwarted by competing public policy advocates who promote their interests.

Remedies

1. Italian interest groups need to unify their voice because fragmentation leads to a blurred vision of the cause they defend.
2. Italian interest groups must improve their strategic planning and organizational skills at the domestic level.
3. Italian interest groups cannot solely depend on personal trust and informal relations to be credible.
4. Italian interest groups need to adapt to the multicultural aspects of EU affairs and seek partnerships with other groups with similar policy interests.
5. Italian interest groups need to further their linguistic and technical training skills to the EU decision making process in order to get a sound grasp of the stakes in public policy advocacy in Brussels.

Representation of Italian Regions

• Genoa (Fondazione Anci Ideali)
• Province Pise (UPI-TECLA)
• Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Alto Adige
• Provincia Autonoma di Trento-EUREGIO
• Provincia Teramo (UPI-TECLA)
• Regione Abruzzo
• Regione Autonoma Aosta Vallée Brussels Office
• Regione Basilicata EU Antenna
• Regione Calabria European Office
• Regione Emilia-Romagna EU Liaison Office
• Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia EU Liaison Office
• Regione Lazio
• Regione Liguria Brussels Office
• Regione Lombardia Brussels Office
• Regione Marche Delegazioni di Bruxelles
• Regione Piedmont Brussels Office
• Regione Puglia
• Regione Sardaigne
• Regione Siciliana-Presidenza Dipartmento di Bruxelles
• Regione Toscana
• Regione Umbria Central Italy Regions Office
• Regione Veneto Brussels Office
• Roma (Fondazione Anci Ideali)

Italian Corporate Representation in Brussels

• Alitalia
• Autostrade per l’Italia
• Banca di Roma
• Banca Monte Paschi Belgio
• Edison
• Enel
• Eni
• Ferrovie Dello Stato
• Fiat Group
• Finmeccanica
• Generali Group
• Intesa SanPaolo
• Pirelli
• Telecom Italia
• Unicredito