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        • 19 May 2006
         
         

        Defining a New Patriotism: culture, economy and society

          The Aspen Junior Fellows annual conference focused its debate on redefining a new patriotism in terms of economy, culture and society. Patriotism founds itself on freedom and the search of common good and therefore does not represent a threat to other countries, nor an obstacle to stable and positive relations with Europe and the rest of the world. In the economic field, being patriotic does not necessarily imply protectionism, position which could – in the long run – damage Italian interests; it means applying a “careful liberalism” as professed by Einaudi.

        • Rome
          • 15 May 2006
           
           

          From Tlc to communications: the multimedia enterprise

            From the meeting it appears that a convergence of the different platforms opens new scenarios for content producers as well as for broadcasters and new entrants in the market. In order to maximise the potentials of this sector, participants focused their attention on a few priorities. First of all, technological neutrality which is a must for the future.

          • Rome
            • 21 March 2006
             
             

            An Energy Pact for Italy

              Debate touched on issues of strategic relevance, including the supply, cost, and distribution of energy in Italy. The country needs an effective energy policy that can bring together security and efficiency, in a national pact between political and business leaders. Panellists stressed the need to modify Italy’s current energy mix, which favors gas, and to use “clean coal” technology, renewable energy sources, and perhaps even reconsider the nuclear option. Italians also need to save more energy.

            • Milan
              • 20 March 2006
               
               

              Brandnames on the global market: their economic and social value

                Brandnames live in a complicated, multidimensional world, in a dynamic system that demands well-defined, unique, memorable, seductive personalities. A brand suggests to the consumer a series of symbols and values that make up that consumer’s attitude and desires in a vast social environment. Participants went so far as to speak of a “brand alchemy”. Businesses must take into account new social and cultural trends to maintain their customers, and phenomenons such as budget crises, recession, anti-global movements, and so on, demonstrate the vulnerability of brandnames.

              • Rome
                • 2 March 2006
                 
                 

                Rendering Italy’s public infrastructure competitive: projects, investment, tariffs

                  Public infrastructure is key to relaunching Italy’s competitiveness; they also demand involvement on various levels: state, regional and local. European directives shake up the Italian regime as well, forcing adaptation to the Merloni law and a re-evaluation of the role of the General Contractor. Participants at this discussion focussed on identifying the enormous financial resources necessary for large public works. To this end, they stressed not only the role of the European Investment Bank and the Italian state, but new and innovative tools of project financing.

                • Rome
                  • 15 February 2006
                   
                   

                  Social security and pensions

                    This meeting offered the occasion to discuss in depth the current situation and evaluate actions to be taken by both institutional and economic actors in order to meet new social challenges. here have been radical demographic, economic and social changes over the past few decades, and an urgent need has risen for European governments to reform their welfare systems. These must be adapted to new realities, without destroying a healthy sense of solidarity. The Italian situation is particularly delicate in this phase of transformation towards new pension plans.

                  • Milan
                    • 6 February 2006
                     
                     

                    Italy and the implementation of the Lisbon agenda

                      The Roundtable on “Italy and the implementation of the Lisbon agenda” was an occasion for Aspen members to discuss Italy’s contribution to the implementation of the Lisbon 2000 agreements between EU countries. Participants discussed the validity and integration of the National Reform Plan that Italy is going to present at the next European Council meeting to be held in Spring. Particular interest was given to the liberalization of the service sector (in accordance to EU policies), to making price determination criteria and demand liberalization.

                    • Rome
                      • 1 February 2006
                       
                       

                      Securing the European homeland

                        The international workshop on “Securing the European Homeland” was held in Rome last Febraury 2nd. The meeting focused on the threats to internal security in EU countries and on what is currently being done in Brussels and in EU capitals to respond to the risk of terrorism. From the discussion it emerged that steps have been taken in the direction of defining possible threats, to the levels of coordination of safety measures and in terms of security legislation, although there are still great difficulties in determining the dynamics of transnational criminal trends.

                      • Milan
                        • 30 January 2006
                         
                         

                        Industrial districts, the Italian brand and laboratories: relaunching a successful scheme

                          The conference of the series “Italy’s current affairs” entitled “Industrial districts, the Italian brand and laboratories: relaunching a successful scheme” was held in Milan on January 30th. During the meeting it was once again underlined how industrial districts – strategic component of the Italian economy – are undergoing a delicate evolution which requires careful monitoring.

                        • Venice
                          • 15 April 2005
                           
                           

                          Union and disunion: Europe in 2015

                            The 14th edition of the Institute’s Aspen European Dialogue focussed on possible scenarios for Europe in the coming decade: the choice between “superpower” and “super-space”, demographic problems and immigration issues, the “budget wars”, and the consequences of a French “no” to the European Constitution. Participants also considered the implications of the Stability Pact reform.

                          • Rome
                            • 1 December 2005
                             
                             

                            Dinner in honor of the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, Ronald P. Spogli

                              The meeting with the US Ambassador to Italy Ronald P. Spogli was an important occasion for Aspen Institute Italia and its members. During the evening the Ambassador illustrated the objectives of his mission to Italy, underlining the excellent relations between Italy and the United States achieved through mutual political and military support in the fight against terrorism. Participants agreed on the need for greater economic exchanges which would favor trade relations that, albeit good, can still be improved.

                            • Milan
                              • 28 November 2005
                               
                               

                              Giving business a soul: values, rules and culture

                                Ten years after the first conference, the annual event of the Friends of Aspen has once again drawn the attention to the business world: to the people and values involved, to project creativity and to the ability to work in a global context. Identifying the soul of business, in particular those principles which strengthen the link between enterprises, citizens and society, allows one to focus on the rules and values essential to the country’s development. Particular attention was dedicated to the value of the people who work for a business, from managerial to lower levels.

                              • Rome
                                • 22 November 2005
                                 
                                 

                                Developing the Italian banking system to favor competitiveness

                                  The Roundtable dealt with a series of strategic issues concerning the Italian bank system, including the high cost of Italian bank serivces compared to other European countries; the limited size of the banks which doesn’t favor the internationalization of business; the difficulty in financing innovation and the common problem -especially in Southern Italy – of credit rationing. Banks stated that the cost of individual bank accounts in Italy are lower than France, Spain and Germany because of special agreements, payment on uninvested capital and joint holders.

                                • Turin
                                  • 20 November 2005
                                   
                                   

                                  Shaping our future: new generations new leaders new ideas

                                    The conference was an occasion for the Aspen Junior Fellows to confront themselves with senior leaders on strategic issues concerning globalization. The debate focused primarily on Europe; participants don’t see the recent setbacks as a reason to give up on the Old Continent and it is therefore necessary to the fight demographic decline and relaunch the economy.

                                  • Rome
                                    • 11 November 2005
                                     
                                     

                                    Working lunch with the European Commissioner Peter Mandelson

                                      The working lunch with the European Commissioner Peter Mandelson has brought the attention to the delicate and complex issue of trade policy prior to the Doha Round scheduled in December in Hong Kong. Participants generally agreed that greater caution is required in further trade liberalization: Italy needs more time to prepare for trade challenges that arrive mainly from China, India – in the IT sector – and from the "green giant" Brazil.

                                    • Rome
                                      • 10 November 2005
                                       
                                       

                                      Banks, enterprises and the protection of private investors

                                        The conference examined the new regulations and their adequacy in protecting private investors and determining appropriate market dynamics. Particular attention was paid to the new law its accuracy in defining property, management and control. The second session focused on the new model for controlling authorities and the role of the independent authorities and management. Participants also discussed potential conflicts between the different functions of the Bank of Italy; namely monetary, controlling and competition authorities.

                                      • Rome
                                        • 27 October 2005
                                         
                                         

                                        Financing Italy’s health system: new models?

                                          According to the World Health Organization, Italy’s health system ranks as one of the best in the world. Yet it has also highlighted the problem, which Italy shares with other European countries, of funding a health system that is capable of responding to changes in the health demand of citizens. The participants called for there to be a move away from a profit and loss account mentality to an analysis of health needs by developing models for gauging demand.