Article in Bullseye - April 2000 - by Paolo Zanetto
Interview:
focus on Forza Italia Giovani
When and why was
Forza Italia Giovani founded?
Forza Italia
Giovani was founded in 1996, a few months after the foundation of
Forza Italia itself. In the beginning of the so-called Italian
Second Republic, Forza Italia was the most important party in Italy,
and we had to build a nationwide youth movement starting from
nothing.
Why should one join
Forza Italia Giovani?
Because we want to
change the life of young people in our country! We're living in a
close society, without opportunities for young people, without the
possibility for one to build his own future, to realise his ideas,
to find his job. A country that doesn't improve his youth is a
country that has in front of itself more past than future: this is
our message, this is our bet.
How is Forza Italia
Giovani organized?
We have a national
level, with a chairman, a national board, and the national council.
We have 20 regional branches coordinating 115 local branches. We
have special branches for the big cities (e.g. Rome, Milan, etc.).
All the local councils have one secretary and 15 members of the
local board, all elected by the base.
Does Forza Italia
Giovani co-operate with other domestic or international
organizations?
In Italy, we are
members of the national student councils of the Ministry of
Education and of the Ministry of University. About the international
organizations, we are member of DEMYC and of IYDU; furthermore we
are dialoguing with YEPP (Youth of the EPP) looking forward to
presenting our request for application.
What are the most
important political issues for Forza Italia Giovani?
First of all, the
freedom of education. In Italy most of the students can't choose
which school or university to attend, because the private schools
are very expensive and the government doesn't help the families who
choose these places. We're fighting for giving to the families the
freedom of choice, with a 'school voucher' that can be 'spent' in
both private and public schools.
Even more important,
more job! One Italian below 35 years old out of three is unemployed;
in southern Italy, almost 50% of young people have no job. This
situation is dramatic, and we need a solution: we need more jobs,
that means more investments from the firms. We need to liberalise
our economy, to eliminate bureaucracy from our tax system, and to
help the young entrepreneurs to raise money for their ideas.
Another point is
the digital revolution - Globalisation, Internet, E-commerce: this
is a great chance for young people to show how much they can get
from the new economy. We have to push the knowledge of the Internet
in Italy, we have to make possible that a young Italian with one
good idea can find funds to carry it on, we have to ride this Third
wave that is coming over Europe.
How does Forza
Italia Giovani spread its message?
We organise public
events in the territory, through both regional and local branches,
like meetings, conferences, etc. Furthermore, we are very active in
taking position on the national media: you can often find our
positions about the latest news in the most important newspapers,
sometimes also in the TV news.
How does a member
go about to influence the political position of Forza Italia
Giovani?
We have local,
regional and national Councils to choose our political orientation
on the major issues, and to decide about the organizational
priorities. We accept motions, documents, we are always open to the
discussion. Of course, any member could run for the being in the
local board, or maybe to become local or regional secretary, or also
national secretary.
Why did you decide
to join EDS and what will the membership of EDS mean to Forza Italia
Giovani?
We want to commit
ourselves to an ambitious goal that we can achieve being into EDS:
that students may be able to really feel European, because at least
for them we can erase the existing concrete barriers. We have to
make available for young people all the best from our countries; we
have to let students learn from the models of other countries, of
other people, to proceed without hesitations towards a really united
Europe.
Which are the most
important issues for EDS to pursue?
First of all,
attention to the concrete exigencies of the student world, including
the harmonization of European diplomas and academic qualifications,
international scholarships and student exchanges, to make students
the citizens of a truly united Europe. In the international
scenario, EDS should be engaged in the defense of human rights
throughout the world.
What do you think
can be done better in the EDS?
EDS has no huge
problems. We think that the first need is to get more space in the
international media, especially during the meetings where we have
important people as invitees, and where we have so many young
friends coming from many countries (e.g. Winter and Summer
Universities).
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