Craxi, Benedetto (Bettino)

This essay analyses Craxi's contribution to re-launching the construction of the European Community. From the end of the seventies, the socialist leader strongly advocated that Italy play an active role at Community level, thus rejecting in Europe the "short-sightedness of axes and directorates". Craxi did not hide his pessimism concerning the deep crisis that was affecting the European Community, its policy and institutions. Having acknowledged the situation, he launched an appeal to make an effort to rethink and give new impetus to "the role, the possibilities and duties of a Community that must now enter a new stage of its development, by taking more advanced steps forward in the process of political and economic integration of Europe". These aims and objectives would also characterize his actions as Italian Prime Minister from 1983 to 1987.