Thursday, October 19, 2006

New Goals of Minister Franco Danieli in Charge of Italians Abroad Revealed

The ANNOTICO Report

 

Luciano Neri, right hand man of Deputy Foreign minister Franco Danieli in charge of Italians abroad was interviewed by Corriere Canadese/Tandem.

 

Some of the goals stated were:

 

1. Greater attention to the "common folk" instead of simply attending galas.

2. Cutting back on the number of travelling delegates of Regional Missions, making them less like "junkets"

3. Setting aside the tired rhetorical tirades and the nostalgic 'pizza & mandolin' approach, and instead tackling problems instead of denying them. Italians abroad need concrete answers, rather than pseudo-patriotic sermons

4. Redefining the roles of COMITES and CGIE

5. A lot of reflection on the electoral law, which could be modified as regards how votes are cast.

6. Improvement of Consular Services

7. Electronic passports are being introduced. Available at end of month.

8. Reacquisition of citizenship by children of former Italian citizens born after their parents renounced their citizenship.
9. RAI to redesign its channel for Italians living abroad

10. No cutbacks on Italians abroad budget

 

 

 

Another Revolution' for Italians Abroad

Luciano Neri: Expect terms for Reacquiring Italian citizenship to Reopen Soon

Corriere Canadese

Tandem News

By Alan Patarga

October 22, 2006

The 'Copernican revolution' for Italians abroad, is underway, taking no heed of the old boss of this group, former Salr militiaman-turned- minister Mirko Tremaglia, and despite the old Italian vice of valuing appearance over substance.

However, substance is central to the action of deputy Foreign minister Franco Danieli in charge of Italians abroad, according to Danieli's right-hand man. Luciano Neri - CGIE councillor, vice co-ordinator of the Margherita Party abroad, and political advisor to Danieli - told us so during a visit to the office of Corriere Canadese/Tandem. He came escorted by the secretary of the Toronto COMITES, Giovanni Ripandelli, and CGIE councillor Giovanni Rapan`, both members of the Margerita Party led by Francesco Rutelli.

Let's begin with the reasons for your visit: is this a prelude to a Canadian trip of the new deputy minister in charge of Italians abroad?

"Well, yes, that's one of the primary goals of this visit: organizing Danieli's first visit as deputy Foreign minister, next spring. A visit that will be very different from those that many Italians abroad have grown accustomed to over the last few years."

How different?

"I'd say radically different. On the occasion of the Columbus Day celebrations, Danieli visited the United States, but instead of the New York parade and official $1,500-a-seat dinners, he chose to get in touch with the Italian communities, meeting people in what are inappropriately labelled as 'marginal' events. I'll tell you an anecdote of a few days ago: at one of those meetings, a lady approached us and told Senator Danieli that finally someone was coming among the common folk instead of simply attending galas. I can't say whether the division is as sharp as this, but certainly there is a problem of a different relationship with the real representatives of Italian communities."

On the other hand, someone - as recently underscored by minister Emma Bonino about Region Campania - got a little carried away with the number of travelling delegates...

"Maybe a little restraint in sending out fancily large regional missions would have been appropriate, at a juncture when many Regions are protesting for cutbacks."

In other words, too much appearance and too little substance?

"The course change must begin from here: setting aside the tired rhetorical tirades and the nostalgic 'pizza & mandolin' approach, tackling problems instead of denying them. Deputy minister Danieli is among the youngest members of the current Government [Ed. Note: he's 50 years old] but he is well acquainted with the problems of Italians abroad, due to the fact that he was one of them, as a young man in Switzerland, and for a previous mandate as undersecretary of State for Italians abroad. He knows quite well how Italians abroad need concrete answers, rather than pseudo-patriotic sermons."

Which concrete actions have been undertaken over these first few months in order to begin this course change?

"As regards the representatives of Italians abroad, the role of COMITES and CGIE - now that we have MPs and Senators elected from abroad - is being re-evaluated. Some people have proposed to abolish them altogether, whereas the government - as Danieli himself declared during the latest plenary session of CGIE - is more inclined to redefine their tasks, in order to ease the hard work of the elective representatives in carrying the voice of whole continents. Then there is a lot of reflection on the electoral law, which could be modified as regards how votes are cast."

Could a reform do away with the much-vilified mail-in ballots?

"It would be nice, cutting to the core of the controversies on alleged irregularities. Alas, despite how nice it would be, it is sadly impossible to put polling stations all over the world: universal suffrage in person would require enormous sums."

Where else to intervene?

"No doubt, on consular services. In order to decide what needs to be done and how, the Ministry has launched a 'mapping' of the Consular network, which is under stress for more than economic resources. For instance, the kindness of the staff does not depend on cash available to the Consulate. That is also something we must work on, because our citizens living abroad are entitled to the best possible service: for this reason, in addition to asking for opinions from the various diplomatic offices we have also asked the various COMITES to provide their own assessment, so that we might have a critical voice from outside the public administration. It goes without saying that the latter tends to preserve itself."

What novelties are to be expected, at least in the short run?

"Electronic passports are being introduced. They come with a digital photo [Ed. Note: these passports are the only kind that will allow their bearers to enter the USA without a visa] and will be available from the end of October in every Consulate; and a deep revamping of the Consular registries, in order to prevent the recurrence of problems with the voter rolls that plagued the last election."
What else is in Danieli's agenda?

"The deputy minister is very well aware of the issue of reacquisition of citizenship. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior are discussing the timetable and procedures for the long-awaited reopening. I can't be specific on the time frame, but I can confirm that there will be a reopening, also in consideration of new needs such as those of children of former Italian citizens born after their parents renounced their citizenship."
About RAI International: someone says, like Gino Bartali used to, "it should be redone from scratch." How true is that?

"Very true, so much so that the government has decided to withhold the renewal of its convention with RAI International that entails a payment of 35 million per year. The sooner RAI will redesign its channel for Italians living abroad, the sooner those funds will be unfrozen."

A drastic decision indeed. Isn't that linked to the general cutbacks in the new budget law?

"There are no cutbacks on Italians abroad; expenditures on this sector are among very few not downsized with this law. The government - except for surprises during the parliamentary debate - intends to earmark 14 million for this year, within an overall expenditure of 42 million within 2009, for the needs of citizens living in other countries. These needs include, first of all, those related to social integration and healthcare."

http://www.tandemnews.com/

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