The centre-right coalition of parties elected in May 2001, the House of Freedoms (Casa delle Libertà), continued to govern during 2002, led by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The coalition is composed of Forza Italia, the National Alliance (Alleanza Nazionale), the Northern League (Lega Nord) and
In February 2003, the Italian government published a White Paper on the welfare state. The document is not a completed package of proposals, but is intended to provide the basis for discussion of a new model of social policy with trade unions and employers' organisations. The stated aim is to
In November 2002, the first European Social Forum was held in Florence, Italy, to discuss globalisation and related matters from a critical perspective. The meeting was particularly notable because, for the first time, major European trade unions engaged directly in dialogue with the opponents of