The appointment of former Premier Romano Prodi --who led Italy's entry into the single currency -- to the presidency of the European Commission was seen as a boost for Italy's status in the EU. But some strains have arisen recently over the EU finance ministers' relaxation of Italy's budget deficit target. Italians remain in favor of closer European integration, and more are now aware of the domestic ... read morebenefits of EU membership.
United States Information Agency. Office of Research and Media Reaction. Italian Support for EU Is Rock Solid. By Janice Bell. Washington, D.C.: June 8, 1999. (Opinion Analysis M-95-99). National Archives Identifier: 5707970 & 7710555.