Date of Entry: May 17, 1972
National Day: June 2
Capital: Rome
Type of Government: Parliamentary Republic
Head of State: President Sergio Mattarela (February 3, 2015)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni (December 12, 2016)
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: Angelino Alfano (December 13, 2016)
Permanent Observer: Ambassador Marilina Armellin (September 28, 2015)
ECONOMIC INDICATORS / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016Population (in millions) / 59.27 / 59.37 / 59.53 / 60.23 / 60.78 / 60.73 / 60.6
GDP (US$ in trillion) / 2.125 / 2.276 / 2.073 / 2.13 / 2.15 / 1.821 / 1.85
GDP per capita (US$) / 35,851.5 / 38,332.3 / 34,814.12 / 35,370.27 / 35,365.1 / 29,993.07 / 30,527.268
Source: | The World Bank Group
FOREIGN RELATIONS AND COOPERATION POLICIES:
- The Italian foreign policy aims at promoting international global concerns such as democracy, human rights, with a focus on the death penalty abolition, as well as encouraging disarmament and counter-terrorism activities, and activities centered to supporting the environment and sustainable energy.
- As an integral part of Italy’s foreign policy, the Italian Development Cooperation’s approach is based on two priorities: 1) the need to ensure the protection of life and human dignity to all the planet’s inhabitants; and 2) a vision of cooperation as a method by which to install, improve and strengthen relations among various countries and various communities.
- This peer-to-peer exchange fosters relations aimed to promote economic and social growth with respect of the environment and cultural variety and capable of protecting common assets such as water, food and energy, so as to ensure the greater prosperity of populations and peace among people.
- Italy was one of the Founding members of the European Community — now the European Union (EU). The country was admitted to the United Nations in 1955 and is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization (GATT/WTO), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Council of Europe. It chaired the CSCE (the forerunner of the OSCE) in 1994, the EU in 1996, and the G8 in 2001, and held the EU presidency from July to December 2003 and July to December 2014.
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE AMERICAS:
- Italy has embassies in 24 countries of the Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela.
THE ITALIAN-LATIN AMERICAN INSTITUTE (IILA)
- The IILA created in 1966 by Italy and 20 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela), has the following objectives:
- To develop, coordinate research and documentation, and identify possibilities for exchange and mutual assistance regarding the problems, achievements and prospects of its Member Countries in cultural, scientific, economic, technical and social contexts.
- In pursuing these objectives IILA carries out the following activities:
In the area of culture it creates activities aimed at spreading awareness of Latin American literature and other forms of art and at shedding light on the contribution made by the Italian presence: exhibitions, encounters with Latin American writers and filmmakers, literary awards, concerts, theatrical performances, and the publication of studies and research.
In the socio-economic sphere alongside the workshops, round tables and international conferences on financial, economic and social policy that it organizes, it sponsors collaboration with the principal Latin American regional institutions such as the Organization of American States (OAS), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Latin American Economic System (SELA) and with sub-regional integration organizations such as the Andean Community (CAN). It also collaborates with the European Commission on the assignment and execution of specific projects as well as through participation in projects that avail themselves of community instruments for the support of Euro-Latin American small and medium-sized enterprises.
In the area of science and technology IILA focuses on sectors such as healthcare, the environment, geology, food, energy and human resources through workshops, symposiums, studies, research and training courses carried out in collaboration with the governments, scientific and academic institutions and specialized agencies of Member Countries.
CASH CONTRIBUTIONS 2005-2016:
YEAR / ITALY / P.O. FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS / %2005 / $317,555.00 / $11,650,039.00 / 2.73%
2006 / $432,707.00 / $19,060,470.00 / 2.27%
2007 / $681,166.00 / $20,398,686.00 / 3.34%
2008 / $1,120,697.36 / $22,684,500.00 / 4.94%
2009 / $290,739.00 / $20,318,115.00 / 1.43%
2010 / $236,225.00 / $15,781,991.00 / 1.50%
2011 / $222,422.00 / $15,692,757.00 / 1.42%
2012 / $123,097.00 / $13,239,105.00 / 0.93%
2013 / $100,274.00 / $16,926,686.00 / 0.59%
2014 / $73,026.00 / $10,999,882.00 / 0.66%
2015 / $75,821.00 / $17,489,205.00 / 0.43%
2016 / $264,260.00 / $14,048,254.00 / 1.88%
Total US$ / $3,937,989.36 / $198,289,690.00 / 1.99%
ITALY CONTRIBUTIONS:
YEAR / PROJECTS / FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONSIN US$ / IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS
IN US$
2000 / Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) – Supporting the Electoral Process / $10,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $10,000.00
2001 / Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) – Demining Program / $100,000.00
Department of Democratic Sustainability and Special Missions (DSDSM) - Peace Fund (Honduras-Nicaragua Verification System) / $13,000.00
Inter-American Commission Against Terrorism (CICTE) -Technical Equipment for Offices / $24,000.00
Haiti – Computers for the Special Mission / $17,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $100,000.00 / $54,000.00
2003 / Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) – Demining Program / $380,330.00
SUBTOTAL / $380,330.00
2004 / Office of Sustainable Development / $100,000.00
Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) – Demining Program / $440,448.00
Secretariat for Political Affairs (SPA) / $127,300.00
Special Mission in Haiti (Equipment) / $15,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $667,748.00 / $15,000.00
2005 / Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Promoting Human Rights Education in the Caribbean / $61,950.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Rapporteurship for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples / $61,950.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Rapporteurship for the Rights of Persons Deprived of Freedom / $61,950.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Strengthening the System of IACHR’s Cases / $22,618.00
Department of Democratic and Political Affairs (DDPA) – Political Party Focus on Haiti / $61,985.00
Department of Democratic and Political Affairs (DDPA) – Special Mission Strengthening Democracy in Haiti / $19,455.00
Department of Multidimensional Security (DMS) – Demining Program / $27,647.00
SUBTOTAL / $317,555.00
2006 / Department of Multidimensional Security (DMS) – Demining Program / $293,735.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Promoting Human Rights in the Andean Region and Central America / $86,388.00
Summit Follow-Up – Elaboration of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples / $52,584.00
SUBTOTAL / $432,707.00
2007 / Department for the Prevention of Threats Against Public Security – Demining Programs Nicaragua, Ecuador/Peru, Colombia, Central America, and Chile; Rehabilitation for Victims of Demining in Colombia / $549,508.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Promotion of Human Rights in Central America, Human Rights in Colombia, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression / $131,658.00
SUBTOTAL / $681,166.00
2008 / Department of Public Security (DPS) – Office of Humanitarian Mine Action (AICMA) – Nicaragua/Ecuador / $40,376.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Nicaragua – Mine Risk Education / $17,770.71
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Nicaragua – Victim Assistance / $172,422.93
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Colombia – Mine Risk Education and Victim Assistance / $23,694.28
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Ecuador/Peru – Mine Risk Education / $46,203.84
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Ecuador/Peru – Equipment / $23,072.79
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Nicaragua / $73,590.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Colombia / $36,795.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Ecuador/Peru / $36,795.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Colombia/Ecuador / $85,508.38
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Colombia – Victim Assistance / $63,575.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Nicaragua/Central America – Victim Assistance / $77,609.80
Justice Studies Center of the Americas (CEJA) – Best Practices for Investigating, Prosecuting, and Punishing Homicide and Corruption in the Americas (Training Activities and Publications) / $78,325.63
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in the Caribbean / $63,575.00
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI) – Civil Registry Information Reconstruction in Huancavelica, Peru (Supplies, documents, and printing material) / $97,906.00
Secretariat for Legal Affairs (SLA) – Paraguay Program for the Facilitation of Access to the Judiciary Service (Judicial Facilitators Program) / $65,006.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Promoting and Protecting Human Rights / $118,471.00
SUBTOTAL / $1,120,697.36
2009 / Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) - Colombia / $61,000.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Demining Programs - Ecuador-Peru / $24,938.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Victim Assistance in Central America / $45,068.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Initiative on Public Policies Regarding Citizen Security and Human Rights in the Americas / $29,762.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Mine Victim Assistance Program / $129,971.00
SUBTOTAL / $290,739.00
2010 / Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) – Demining Programs – Cordillera del Condor Region of Ecuador/Peru / $21,940.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) - Demining - Rehabilitation of Mine Survivors in Central America (Honduras and Nicaragua) / $45,217.00
Department of Public Security (DPS)- Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) - Demining - Demining and Education on Mine Risk in the Cordillera del Condor Region of Ecuador and Peru / $45,217.00
Department of International Law - Judicial Facilitators Guatemala / $123,851.25
SUBTOTAL / $236,225.25
2011 / Secretariat for Multidimensional Security / Unit for Policies and Programs - Plan de Acción Integrado para Ayudar a los Estados Miembros a Responder a la Amenaza de Crimen Organizado Transnacional (COT) / $64,360.00
Secretariat for Political Affairs / Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation – Electoral Observation Mission to Nicaragua / $25,744.00
Secretariat for Political Affairs / Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation – Electoral Observation Mission to Guatemala / $12,872.00
Secretariat for Political Affairs / Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation – Electoral Observation Mission to Colombia / $12,872.00
Secretariat for Political Affairs / Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation – Audit of the Electoral Registry in Colombia / $12,872.00
Secretariat for Multidimensional Security / Department of Public Security – Control and Destruction of Firearms, Light Weapons, Munitions and Related Materials / $93,702.00
SUBTOTAL / $222,422.00
2012 / Secretariat for Multidimensional Security / Department of Public Security - Demining Activities in Honduras and Ecuador (AICMA) / $90,867.00
Electoral Observation Mission - Paraguay / $32,230.00
SUBTOTAL / $130,518.00
2013 / Secretariat for Multidimensional Security / Department of Public Security - Humanitarian Demining and Mine Risk Education in the Cordillera del Condor (AICMA) / $73,506.30
Electoral Observation Mission in El Salvador / $26,768.00
SUBTOTAL / $100,274.30
2014 / Secretariat for Multidimensional Security / Department of Public Security - Integral Landmine Victim Assistance and Socio-economic Reinsertion in Colombia / $73,026.00
SUBTOTAL / $73,026.00
2015 / Secretariat for Political Affairs / Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation - Electoral Observation Mission for the General and Regional Elections in Guyana, May 11, 2015 / $11,048.00
Secretariat for Political Affairs / Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation - Electoral Observation Mission for the General Elections in Suriname, May 25, 2015 / $11,048.00
Secretariat for Political Affairs / Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation - Electoral Observation Missions in Haiti / $32,865.00
Secretariat for Political Affairs/ Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation- Electoral Observation Missions in Guatemala, October 2015 (20,000 Euros) / $20,860.00
SUBTOTAL / $75,821.00
2016 / The Department of Public Security – AICMA/Mine Action Program-Colombia / $80,453.00
Department of Sustainable Development – Clean Energy Altern. & Climate Migration Strategies / $37,000.00
The Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation – EOM 2016 Bolivia / $20,000.00
The Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation – EOM 2016 Peru / $6,000.00
The Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation – EOM 2016 Colombia / $44,812.00
The Department of Electoral Cooperation and – Streng. Electoral Authorities / $20,000.00
The Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions – MACCIH Basket Fund / $55,995.00
SUBTOTAL / $264,260.00
TOTAL / $5,086,067.36 / $79,000.00
SOURCES:
GOVERNO ITALIANO - PRESIDENZA DEL CONSIGLIO DEI MINISTRIhttp://www.governo.it/Presidente/index.html
THE ITALIAN-LATIN AMERICAN INSTITUTE (IILA)
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF ITALY
/ COOPERAZIONE ITALIANA ALLO SVILUPPO
WORLD BANK – TRADING ECONOMICS
This page was last updated on July 5, 2017.