Good and bad sides of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2014

Abstract

From 1 July to 31 December 2014, Italy held the Presidency of the Council
of the European Union for the seventh time in the history of the European
Communities. The Presidency took place in a very difficult period in the
history of integration: the economic and financial crisis of the Eurozone was
not overcome, there were tensions in the relations with Russia in connection
with the situation in the east of Ukraine, there was a threat resulting from
the unstable situation in the Mediterranean and there were changes in the
most important posts of the European institutions after the elections to the
European Parliament. The main priorities of the Italian Presidency, also
adopted by the presidency trio with Latvia and Luxemburg, focused on the
pro-growth policy in economy, completion of the development of the banking
union in the financial area and active foreign policy, the main elements
of which was solidarity in the Mediterranean policy (combating illegal
immigration), emphasising strategic relations with Russia, reviving economic
relations with the countries of Asia and the Pacific and economic relations
with the United States. Due to Italy’s internal weakness reflected in unstable
political situation and economic crisis, the Presidency managed to implement
only some of the plans. It was the Presidency that mostly passed unnoticed.