Monti – Hollande, an axis for growth – Fears for the eurozone were once again the main theme of the news and the foreign press was focused on the June 14 Rome meeting between Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and French President François Hollande. The encounter was the first in a series of appointments over the next two weeks that will be decisive for the future of the euro. According to the Tribune of Geneve it concluded with “perfect agreement on growth” (Paris et Rome en parfait accord sur la croissance) while the two countries’ united position was also highlighted by the Financial Times (France and Italy unite on euro crisis plan*), El Pais (Monti y Hollande se conjuran por el crecimiento) and Le Monde (Rome, trait d’union entre Paris et Berlin pour dénouer la crise de la zone euro*). Instead, the Wall Street Journal reported on the two leaders’ commitment to creating a clear path of growth (Hollande, Monti Say Euro Zone Needs Clear Path*). The paper also ran an article on the appeal for development of Europe’s economy from Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco (June 9 – Italy’s Visco: G-20 Must Stick to Growth). And while many foreign papers kept their eye on the evolution of the crisis, the South China Morning underscored Italy’s economic attractiveness: together with Italian interests in Chine, the number of Chinese investors in Italy is growing. (June 13 – Chinese investors find a good fit in Italy*).
Made in Italy: from the Louvre to Latin America – A fashion show that made history. Salvatore Ferragamo presented his newest collection at the Louvre in Paris, attracting the attention of many newspapers around the world. The event was described in articles in The New York Times (June 13 – Ferragamo Shows Resort Wear in the Louvre in Paris), The Washington Post (June 12 – Louvre Museum opens its storied hallways to Ferragamo fashion show, making history), and –obviously – the French Le Monde, which published an interview with Ferruccio Ferragamo (June 14 – Ferruccio Ferragamo : “Mon père rêvait d’habiller les femmes des pieds à la tête”). The Argentinean La Nacion also reported on the Made in Italy brand, but instead of fashion, its subject is the history of the legendary Ducati motorcycle (June 9 – Ducati el mito desmodrómico).
Culture, cinema and tourism – There were also articles on Italian culture in the foreign press this week. The Spanish ABC interviewed writer Claudio Magris on the prospects for Europe (June 13 – “Europa corre un gran riesgo, si no nos unimos todos quedará devaluada”*), while The New York Times published a conversation with photographer Giacomo Costa (June 12 – An Italian Artist’s Brave New Digital Landscape). Le Monde also discussed the visual arts with a review of Andrea Segre’s latest film on immigration (June 12 – “La Petite Venise” : une mise en scène univoque pour une romance ambigüe sur l’immigration). Tourism in Italy also received the attention of the foreign press: Die Welt travels in the Lake Como region, visiting its historic villas (June 13 – Der Comer See und seine prachtvollen Villen) and The Wall Street Journal visited Amalfi (June 15 – Amalfi’s Best-Kept Secret). Finally, La Nacion continued to follow the trail of Italians who emigrated to Argentina with a stop in a Bolzano (June 10 – Regreso al palacio del nonno).
* marked articles viewable online upon payment or registration