EU and Italy

EU and Italy Italy Attempts to Maintain Peace During Its Presidency of the European Union Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is on a mission this week: he is trying to strengthen ties with the European Union, and he is hoping to do this by way of Italy. Israeli relations with the European Union have become increasingly strained lately, noted by a new poll in which most Europeans believe that Israel is the greatest threat to world peace (Schattner 1).

Thus, Sharon is trying to negate this image by taking a three-day trip to Rome, where he will hold talks with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Sharon will use this visit to acknowledge the support Berlusconi has shown to Israel ever since Italy took over the rotating role as president of the European Union. Sharon will also use this opportunity to gain Italy's support in taking concentrated international action in the war against terrorism.

Sharon believes that the campaign against Israel in linked to terrorist attacks, and he is hoping to fortify Italy's support for Israel even further. Italy is currently the 58th president of the European Union; this is Italy's sixth presidency. Shortly before taking over this presidency, Berlusconi said that Italy's top priority would be to boost Europe and its international standing.

He also said, "Italy's semester won't change the world but it will contribute to the building of a Europe that is greater and a bigger player on the international stage" (People's Daily 1). One of the ways in which Italy planned to do this was by healing divisions with the United States following the downward turn in relations caused by the war in Iraq.

Thus, perhaps Berlusconi's support of Israel is his way of showing good faith in the United States as well, contributing to his overall EU goal of strengthening Europe's position in the world. Italy has also been busy working on a new constitution for the European Union, and has.