The Italian economy is certainly the weakest of the big European countries.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
But Italy can only have any real influence on world affairs if it carries weight in Europe.
The savings rate in Italy is high, but the markets do not trust Italy even though it's the third largest economy in the European Union and the eighth in the world.
The Italians, who used to be a great motor-manufacturing power, have been absolutely destroyed by the euro - as was intended by the Germans.
China needs a powerful Europe, but Europe can only be strong if each and every one of its members attains rapid economic development.
The strongest institution in the hands of the European Union is the euro.
Well, the Communists at that moment were very strong in Italy and the Italian Communist Party was the biggest Communist Party outside Soviet Union, there's no doubt about that.
It's a European Union of economic failure, of mass unemployment and of low growth.
This is what the European Union is all about. A strong market with a strong currency.
For years, European leaders have pointed out that Europe is an economic giant, but a military pygmy.
The Italians are very strong defensively. They showed in Euro 2000 how good defensively they are.
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