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      • Rome
        • 11 May 2005
         
         

        Basel II and IAS (International Accounting Standard): the “new double entry” for banks and business

          Participants discussed risks and opportunities springing from the new international accounting standards. They considered, in particular, consequences on budgets, net assets, and aggregation processes. They also reflected on difficulties the new system will cause for businesses and how businesspeople are preparing. The conference ended with a discussion of the new relationship between banks and businesses that the Basel 2 Accord will soon create, and of how the Accord’s credit risk innovations will condition that relationship.

        • Rome
          • 4 May 2005
           
           

          The attractiveness of Italy’s economic model

            The roundtable discussion focused on the means and mechanisms to improve the attractiveness of the Italian economy. The roundtable participants voiced their disagreement with views that the country’s economic health is “in decline”, noting that such assessments are fueled by the presence within the country of areas with structural difficulties in adapting to international competition and the tendency towards making generalizations without taking into account territorial specificities and the existence of points of excellence.

          • Rome
            • 29 April 2005
             
             

            The Balkans in Europe’s future

              From the international workshop organized by Aspen Institute Italia at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emerged a proposal to draw up a “road map for the Balkans”. Participants met before an ample audience to discuss the “The Balkans in Europe’s future” and to consider strategies to help integrate southeastern Europe into the EU and other international organizations. The Balkans are relatively stable, military conflict has ceased, ethnic cleansing is a thing of the past, and free elections have been held.

            • Rome
              • 6 April 2005
               
               

              Telecommunications, content, broadcasting: services and markets

                This roundtable focused on problems presented by rapid development in the telecommunications sector and prospects for growth. The diverse platforms, each with their special characteristics and peculiarities, provide the customer with a variety of choices and services, in accordance with their particular needs. In order to compete, businesses must present their products in original ways as well as satisfy the customer’s demand for an interactive and personalized product.

              • Rome
                • 16 March 2005
                 
                 

                Free trade and competitiveness

                  Freeing up markets entails a variety of phenomena: opening up to competition, increasing efficiency, offering greater choice to the consumer and improving access to capital markets for businesses. Discussion here involved all players. First participants focused on the government, and the Authorities that supervise competition and liberalization. Then they turned to Italy’s system of businesses and financial intermediaries that are led to look for new market and to rationalize their own productive processes.

                • Rome
                  • 11 March 2005
                   
                   

                  China’s challenge to Europe and the U.S.

                    This meeting, organized as an informal discussion among a small number of European and American experts, focussed in particular on the problem of the EU embargo on arms sales to China, in the broader context of economic and security challenges currently presented by the rapidly growing economic and demographic giant. Of the various issues that emerged, two regarding domestic policy stand out: political reforms and human rights, crucial criteria in evaluating Beijing’s progress since Tienanmen in 1989 – which gave birth to the embargo in the first place.

                  • Milan
                    • 7 March 2005
                     
                     

                    The new communications system: a challenge for the media

                      New tools, new forms of access, availability of content, large variety of sources, increased Internet use: news has changed dramatically, and the challenges for the media are many. This roundtable, held at the Corriere della Sera offices in Milan, invited discussion on Italy’s particular situation with relation to the global communications market. Media training, revolutions ongoing on an industrial level, doubts on a regulatory level (especially as concerns intellectual property, as norms guarding copyright are mostly obsolete) were all on the table.

                    • Milan
                      • 28 February 2005
                       
                       

                      Financing innovation: new proposals and instruments

                        This conference identified a series of risks and opportunities for financing innovation. Policies are difficult to draw up, just as innovation is different to pin down. The first obstacle is uncertainty: naturally, it is impossible to foresee the results of research and plan the market’s reaction to a new product or service. As the outcome of an innovative venture is unknown, so is the conviction of the person innovating and the person sponsoring that innovation unbalanced.

                      • Milan
                        • 14 February 2005
                         
                         

                        The search for our soul: mistery and passion

                          This meeting, held in the beautiful Ambrosiana library, offered the occasion to reflect on a very different topic than usual, at Aspen Italia events: the soul, as seen in different cultures, and as it inspires everyone – whether he or she believes in God or not – to consider the most profound issues for humanity. Participants quickly, but without succumbing to superficiality, reviewed the notion of “soul” as it has been appreciated over the centuries and in different cultures.

                        • Rome
                          • 8 February 2005
                           
                           

                          Rethinking globalization: Italy’s role in EU-India relations

                            This workshop, held in Aspen’s Rome offices on the eve of Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi’s trip to India, involved authoritative members of India’s English-speaking press. Participants considered conditions necessary for better economic and political relations between the EU and India. Special attention was dedicated to Italy’s role in reinforcing bilateral relations and in increasing trade and direct investment to a country that experts agree will soon represent a serious competitor on international markets.

                          • Rome
                            • 19 January 2005
                             
                             

                            Post-Kyoto: what energy mix for Italy?

                              The Kyoto Protocol, in force since February 16, 2005, creates the need for Italy to review the methods and costs of securing energy supplies. Speaking at the launch of issue no. 27 of Aspenia, authoritative figures from the Italian political and economic spheres refocused attention on a series of proposals aimed at bringing stability to the situation regarding available energy resources and avoiding the difficulties and problems encountered in recent months.

                            • Rome
                              • 12 January 2005
                               
                               

                              The quality of leadership

                                Participants at this meeting discussed a series of papers on specific issues (from competitiveness to energy) aimed at identifying Italy’s priorities. Groups of Aspen Junior Fellows worked together to draft these papers, which were then evaluated in the context of a broad discussion on the current characteristics and demands of Italy’s leaders. The meeting also served to launch a project – now ongoing – to survey and analyze leadership in Italy.