Overview
Capital: Rome
Official EU language(s): Italian
EU Member State: since 1 January 1958
Currency: euro (€) Euro area member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: member since 26 October 1997
Figures:
- Geographical size: 302 079 km2
- Population: 58 850 717 (2023)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for geographical size and population)
Political system
Italy is a parliamentary republic with a prime minister who is the head of government. The president is the head of state and appoints the prime minister. The Parliament is composed of 2 houses: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. The country is subdivided into 20 regions. 5 of these have a special autonomous status, enabling them to pass legislation on some local matters.
Trade and economy
Italy’s GDP per capita is €34 400, very close to the EU average (€35 500). It accounts for 12.3% of the EU's total GDP.
(Source: Eurostat - figures for GDP per capita and GDP)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for exports and imports)
There are 76 representatives from Italy in the European Parliament. Find out who these Members of the European Parliament are and follow the activities of the European Parliament’s office in Italy.
In the Council of the EU, national ministers meet regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Representatives from the Italian government attend Council meetings focused on their area of responsibility several times a year.
The Council of the EU does not have a permanent, single-person president (like the Commission or Parliament). Instead, its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months.
During these 6 months, ministers from that country's government chair and help determine the agenda of Council meetings in the different policy areas, and facilitate dialogue with the other EU institutions.
Dates of Italian presidencies:
Jul-Dec 1959 | Jul-Dec 1962 | Jul-Dec 1965 | Jul-Dec 1968 | Jul-Dec 1971 | Jul-Dec 1975 | Jan-Jun 1980 | Jan-Jun 1985 | Jul-Dec 1990 | Jan-Jun 1996 | Jul-Dec 2003 | Jul-Dec 2014 | Jan-Jun 2028
The European Commissioner nominated by Italy is Paolo Gentiloni who is responsible for the Economy.
The Commission is represented in each EU country by a local office, called a "representation". Find out more about the Commission's representation in Italy.
Italy has 24 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee. This advisory body – representing employers, workers and other interest groups – is consulted on proposed laws, to get a better idea of the possible changes to work and social situations in different countries.
Italy has 24 representatives on the European Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. This advisory body is consulted on proposed laws, to ensure these laws take account of the perspective from each region of the EU.
Italy also communicates with the EU institutions through its permanent representation in Brussels. As Italy's "embassy to the EU", its main task is to ensure that the country's interests and policies are heard and pursued as much as possible in the EU.
Budgets and funding
How much does Italy pay and receive from the EU?
The EU budget is the tool to ensure that Europe remains a democratic, peaceful, prosperous and competitive force. The EU uses it to finance its priorities and big projects that most individual EU countries could not finance on their own.
The benefits of EU membership significantly exceed the size of the EU budget contributions and the examples are many. All Member States benefit from being part of the Single Market, a shared approach to the common challenges of migration, terrorism and climate change, and concrete gains like better transport infrastructure, modernised and digitalised public services and cutting-edge medical treatment.
How much each EU country pays into the EU budget is calculated fairly. The larger your country's economy, the more it pays – and vice versa.
The EU budget is not about giving and taking – it’s about collectively contributing to making Europe and the world a better place for us all.
EU budget spending and revenue per country and per year
EU-funded projects in Italy
Money from the EU budget helps fund programmes and projects in all EU countries – for example to build roads, subsidise researchers and protect the environment.
Find out more about how Italy benefits from EU funding and recovery funds in your country or region.