Searching for the EU Political Identity: Experience of the Italian Yellow-Green Government (2018-2019)

Abstract

The article focuses upon the subject of the EU’s political identity in connection with the experience of the Italian Yellow-Green Government (2018-2019). Taking into account general tendencies and attitudes of previous Italian governments towards the European integration process, the author pays special attention to the “European line” proposed by the coalition between the Five-Star Movement and the League. The author concludes that the supranational political nature and growing complexity of the European Union are not compatible with the one-sided approach to conceptualizing the EU identity. As a result, it is necessary to redefine the components of the EU’s political identity, as well as reconsider certain controversial concepts, such as sovranism and populism.

Keywords

• eu political identity
• yellow-green government
• populism
• sovranism
• european integration