Capital: Rome
Population: 59 million
Monetary unit: 1 euro (€) = 100 cents
Major language: Italian
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 77 years (men), 83 years (women)
International dialing code: +39
Internet domain: .it

State name: Repubblica Italiana – Republic of Italy
Government: Parliamentary democracy Republic
Topography: France in the Northwest, Switzerland and Austria in the North, Slovenia in the Northeast, Sea border to the mediterranean sea, Enclaves : San Marino, Vatican City.
Population: Italians, 4,6% foreigners (2006).
Regligion: 90% Roman Catholics. Other Religions 30.000 Jews, 65.000 Protestants, Buddhist, Muslims.
Demonym: Italian.
National Holidays: 25. April (Liberation Day), 2. June (Anniversary, Founding of the Republic).
International Organisations: UNO and custom UN Organisations, G-7, G-8, NATO, EU, WEU, OSCE, OECD, Council of Europe, WTO, CEI.

Property: Italy covers North Italy (South alp bow, Pianura Padana, Venetian plain, Enclave Campione d’Italia), the Appennini peninsula as well as Sicily, Sardinia and other smaller isles. 75% of Italy is hilly country, the Italian alps (Mont Blanc/Monte Blanco 4.809 m) and the southern limestone alps (Dolomites) as well as the Appennini which is beginning at the southern alp bow passing to Calabria. Sardinia consists of granite, two third of the country is lying in a earthquake zone. Active Volcano are Vesuvius, Mount Etna, Stromboli the total coast length of Italy is 7.375 km.
Climate: Alpine region: central European climate ; Pianura Padana: continental climate with cold winter and wet summers ; Middle Italy: temperate mediterranean climate ; South Italy with Isles: Mediterranean climate (wet, mild winter, dry summers). Rome: average annual temperature 15 °C, average monthly temperature 23 °C. Annual precipitation 800mm.
Area and Population: The total population counts 59.546.696 people on 301.338 km² = 197,6 Pers./km². The capital Rome (Roma) has 2.548.076 inhabitants. Other important cities are Milan (Milano) 1.324.048, Naples (Napoli) 977.738, Turin (Torino) 872.255, Palermo 662.881, Genoa (Genova) 595.736, Florence (Firenze) 377.076, Bologna 375.115, Bari 309.269, Catania 298.400, Venice (Venezia) 269.441, Verona 263.383 inhabitants. The capital London has 7.554.236 Million. Population growth (1998-2005) 0,1%, Town population 67,5% (2005).
Administration: Italy contains 20 regions, 110 provinces, 8.100 communities and 60.000 villages and areas. 15 Regions have a normal statute, five a special statue (Sicily, Sardinia, Valle d'aosta, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia). The regions they take over tasks of government administration, their organs are the regional council and a regional committee with a elected president, a commissioner represents the central government.

Italy State and Government

Head of State: President of the Republic Dr. Giorgio NAPOLITANO (Democrati di Sinistra/DS), sworn in on the 10. Mai 2006, successor of Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. Period of office of seven years, a re-election is possible.
Parliament: The Parliament (Parlamento) consisting of the Senate “Senato della Repubblica” (315 members, various number of elected senators, at present seven) President is Franco Marini (DC) and the Representative chamber “Camera dei Deputati” (639 representatives) the President is Fausto Bertinotti (PRC). Both houses have a legislative period of five years, latest elections were on the 10. April 2006.

Industry: The industrial sector in Italy held 18% of GDP shares and employed about 20,2% of total workforce in 2006. In this economy branch almost 99,7% are small and middle companies with less than 250 employees. The country has a high specialization degree in leather processing (40% of European production) as well as in the textile and clothing industry (respectively approx 27%). Most important Industry branches in terms of production values and factor costs were 2001 : Metals and Metal products (12,1%), Nonelectrical Machines (10,7%), Foods (9,1%), Electrical Machines (7,7%), Chemicals (7,2%). The motor vehicle sector made c. 8,5% of GDP shares. The Italian automobile market was the second most important (c. 2,3 Million new registrations) of Europe in 2006, a considerable production increase in the motor vehicle branch and pharmaceutical industry is estimated due to the positive national economy development.

Rates of production (2004): Wine (47,12 Million hl); Benzine (38,025 Million tons); Diesel (13,28 Million tons); Pig iron (28,71 Million tons); Raw steel (28,39 Million tons); Cement (45,34 Million tons); Refrigerators (6,44 Million pieces), Washing machines (9,68 Million pieces) ; Automobiles (839.200 pieces) ; Trucks (283.900 pieces); Mopeds and Motorbikes (622.300 pieces).

Energy Industry: Italy`s largest energy company is the ENEL (Ente Nazionale per l’ Energia), the ENI (Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi) is executing petroleum and natural gas production, the country has also 550 local energy companies. Four existing nuclear power plants were shutted down till 1990 due to a EU referendum. Italy has to cover about 80% of its energy requirements trough imports. Electricity power production (2004: 277,6 Billion kWh) consist from 41,4% of natural gas, 26,8% of petroleum, 15,6% of coal and 11,9% of water-power. The production of liquid gas facilities is advancing. Italy is the EU largest electricity net importer. The electricity consumption was 303,8 Billion kWh in 2004, petroleum consumption was estimated to 1.881 Million barrel per day, natural gas consumption amounted approx 80,61 Billion m³. The County is passed with a wide spread net of gas pipelines (17.589 km, with exception of Sardinia), which is connected to all industrial areas, petroleum pipelines counts just about 1.136 km in comparsion. Since 2004, Libya is supplying Italy with natural gas trough a pipeline to Sicily.

Raw materials: Italy is lacking of raw materials, primarily missing are iron ore and coal. Brown coal mining (lignite) was discontinued at the end of the last decade. To the traditional raw materials counts the marble occurrence at Carrara (Tuscany). In 2003 the mineral oil production begun, the most important oil fields are lying at the Pianura Padana area andthe southern Adriatic Sea, in the upper Basilica, in Gela and Ragusa (Sicily) as well as in the Mediterranean Sea in the south of Sicily. Exploitation of gas fields in the Pianura Padana area is almost completed, now it is continued in the northern Adria (approx 40% of total output) and the Ionian Sea (approx 6%). In 2004, Italy covered 16% of his natural-gas requirements. Detected oil reserves (2002) are approx 586,6 Million barrel, gas reserves (2005) approx 226,5 Billion m³.

Conveying capacities(2004, 1.000 tons): Crude oil 5.407 ; Natural gas 12.195Million m³ ; Lead 1,2 ; Feldspar 2.941 ; Rock salt 2.877 ; Sea salt 800 ; Gypsum 1.615 ; Gold 100 kg ; Talcum 138; Aluminium oxide 13.821.

Italy has an efficient traffic network, a modernization and extension of the road and track network is planned by the government in the following years. Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin have subways. Future projects are a italian-austrian large-scale train project, the BBT (Brennerbasistunnel, 55 km long tunnel) as well as the high speed connection Turin-Milan-Naples.

Road and Automotive: The net of fixed roadways counts 484.688 km (6,621 km highways), 9,5% are state and 20,6% province roads. The advanced and developed highway net is one of the highest density of traffic in Europe, it is being mostly financed by tolls. The highways on Sicily as well as the route between Salerno and Reggio di Calabria are toll free.

(2004; 33,97 Million automobiles ; 92.900 omnibusses ; 4,2 Million freight vehicles ; 142.000 tractors ; 4,92 Million motorbikes)

Railway: The track network of Italy counts 19.459 km (11.637 km electrified). Heavily travelled lines are Milan–Venice, Milan–Bologna, Rome–Naples and Milan-Genoa. The railway company Ferrovio dello Stato S.p.A (FS) transported 504,4 Million passengers and 83,09 Million tons of freight in the year 2004, besides the Ferrovio dello Stato S.p.A (FS) there are 24 local railway companies.

Shipping: Italy has 195 harbours (66 important for industry and trade, the rest are tourism purpose). 65% of the international freight traffic is dealt over the sea. The most important harbours are Trieste, Genoa, Taranto, Augusta, Livorno, Ravenno and the Melilli oil terminal, highest passenger volume has Messina (Sicily), Reggio di Calabria, Naples and Capri. Italy has a merchant fleet of 1,539 ships, 591 merchant ships (11,62 Million GRT).

In the international shipping 2004, Italy loaded 79,2 Million tons of freight and unloaded 270,8 Million tons, 3,2 Million passengers arrived and 3,0 Million went aboard a ship.

Aviation: Italy has 133 airfields (98 with fixed roadways) and five helicopter landing sites. The most important aerodromes are Rome-Fiumicino (30,1 Million passengers) and Milan-Malipensa. 49,03 Million passengers on domestic and 57,96 Million on international flights were transported in 2004, as well as 135.500 tons of freight on domestic and 684.600 tons of freight in international transportation.

The airline company Alitalia is with 180 airplanes and 24 Million transported passengers one of the most important airlines in the world. Other airlines in Italy are: Air One, Air Dolomiti, Air Sicilia, Alpi Eagles, Azzura Air, Gandalfair, Meridiana S.p.A, MyWay (MyAir) Airlines, Volare S.p.A, Air Europe.

Tourism: The Tourism has a long tradition due to its alpine and mediterranean landscape in Italy. 40 Objects of the UNESCO world cultural heritage can be found in Italy. From 1860 to 1960 tourism was the principal source of income of Italy. Most visited cities are Rome, Florence, Venice.

In 2003 36,7 Million people visited Italy, mostly visitors from Germany (8,69 Million) followed by USA (4,07 Million) United Kingdom (2,93 Million) and France (2,92 Million). Total revenues were 37,9 Billion USD$ making place three in worldwide rankings (2004).

Press: Italy has 89 dailies with an average circulation of 6,27 Million copies and 51 weekly magazines with a average circulation of 12,8 Million copies. Thereunder products of the yellow press such as Oggi (1945; 760.000) as well as Gente (1957; 758.400) and political magazines such as L'espresso
(390.000) and Panorama (1952; 200.000). All mentioned weeklies with exception of the Espresso (Rome) are coming out in Milan. Moreover 120 monthly magazines from various divisions are published, they have a total circulation of 14,5 Million copies. The most important supraregional newspapers are coming out in the press centres Rome and Milan.

Edition strongest nationwide dailies: Corriere della Sera (founded 1876; 672.000 copies), La Repubblica (founded 1976; 616.700), La Stampa (founded 1867; 410.000), Il Giornale (founded 1974; 350.000), Il Sole 24 Ore (founded 1865; 344.000), Il Resto del Carlino (founded 1885; 250.000), Il Messagero (founded 1878; 235.000), La Nazione (founded 1859; 200.000), Il Secolo XIX (founded 1886; 179.400), Il Gazzettino (founded 1887; 152.800), Avvenire (founded 1968; 148.000), L'Unità (founded 1924; 100.000).

La Gazzetta dello Sport has with 426.000 copies the largest circulation in the sports division. Confindustria is the circulation largest business newspaper in Europe.

Television and Radio: The state-owned broadcasting company Rai Televisione Italiana SpA is broadcasting nationwide three TV and Radio programmes. A law from 1975 shall secure the political independence for the company. The most important television provider of Italy is the Gruppo Mediaset, broadcasting three TV stations, Canale 5, Italia 1 and Retequattro. SkyItalia operates Pay-TV channels with 3 Million subscribers.
The broadcasting company South Tyrol RAS is broadcasting Radio and TV programmes from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

(674 TV and 1.930 Radio Stations; 28,3 Million TVs, 50,5 Million Radios.)

News Agency: ANSA (Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata), AGI (Agenzia Giornalistica Italia), AdnKronos, Asca, Dire (Documentazioni Informazioni Resoconti), IPS (Inter Press Service).

Telecommunications: The state monopolist Telecom Italia S.p.A (TI) was privatized and taken over by Pirelli. A consortium of the Spanish Telefónica and several Italian companies (Mediobanca, Intesa Sanpaolo, Generali-insurances, Benetton) are the largest shareholders of Telecom Italia. Four mobile licenses were given out to Blu, WIND Telecomunicazioni, Vodafone Italia and Telecom Italia Mobile (leading mobile phone service provider).

(25,0 Million landline; 72,2 Million mobile phone and 28,9 Million internet users.)

Italy`s system of laws is based on roman law and codified by the French model. The code of criminal procedure was reformed in 1989, equality of prosecution and defence as well as shifting of the burden of proof was normed in 2001. The government approved reduction of a penalty because of prison overcrowding, within one year 15.000 prisoners could be released.

First level of jurisdiction could be: The justice of the peace (Giudice di Pace; single judge), The local court (Pretura; single judge) or the district court (Tribunale Ordinario; three local courts). The local courts are negotiating middle criminal matters (up to four years of imprisonment), the jury court (Corte d'Assise) is negotiating heavy criminal offences. Appeals about convicions are being decided by the appellation jury courts (Corte d'Assise d'Appello). The court of cassation (Corte di Cassazione) is the highest court of jurisdiction.

Administrative jurisdiction has two stages, the first authority is a regional administration court (Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale/TAR), appeals are being negotiated by the State Council.

The Constitutional law court (Corte Costituzionale) was founded 1956 and consists of 15 judges (term of office nine years), it decides in constitutional questions, in competence conflicts between the State and single regions or regions among each other, abrogative referenda, prosecutions against the president or members of the government in terms of high treason or breach of the constitution. Supervisory over the court system has the Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura (27 members).

Constitution: Italy`s constitution was adopted on the 22. December 1947 and took force on the 1. January 1948 (modified December 2005).

The President (Presidente della Repubblica) is being elected for a period of office of seven years by a electoral body, consisting of members of both houses of parliament and three representatives of the regions. The President has the right to dissolve the parliament and to appoint the head of the government.

The Government contains the head of the government (Presidente del Consiglio) and the ministers. A referendum is being completed if 500.000 voters, five Regional councils or one-fifth of the members from one house of the parliament. The Parliament, consisting of senate and the representative chamber, is being elected in overall direct vote for a period of office of five years.

The Representative chamber (Camera dei Deputati; residence in Palazzo Montecitorio) has 630 elected members (Deputati).
The Senate (Senato della Repubblicca; residence in Palazzo Madama) has 315 elected members (Senatori) and a various number of members appointed for life (at the moment seven), the president of the senate is also the representative of the state president.