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At the outset of the creation of the euro in 1999, it was expected that the southern eurozone economies would behave like those in the north; the Italians would behave like Germans. They didn't. Instead, northern Europe fell into subsidizing southern Europe's excess consumption, that is, its current account deficits.

The Italian economy is certainly the weakest of the big European countries.

The role of Italy and of Austria has diminished as has that of France and Britain; Germany and Japan have suffered catastrophically.

If the euro becomes a factor promoting Europe's drifting apart, then the foundation of the European project is destroyed.

The euro has become a means by which superior German productivity is able to gain an absolutely unbeatable advantage over the whole eurozone territory.

The Italians are very strong defensively. They showed in Euro 2000 how good defensively they are.

So Europe's a big driver. And at one point, if the euro hadn't devalued, they would have been making as much money as the US with half the stores. Returns were higher.

In 1917 - as we have seen, - Italy suffered a great reverse, losing 200,000 soldiers and immense supplies.

I am disgusted by the anti-Semitism of many Italians, of many Europeans.

The value of 'Made in Italy' must necessarily be up-to-date. This is the philosophy that Italia Independent has embraced. We decided from the outset to do away with stereotypes and attune ourselves to the extreme pace, to the incessant metamorphoses of the globalized world.