The Italian economy is certainly the weakest of the big European countries.

Berlusconi is no longer fit to lead our country.

But Italy can only have any real influence on world affairs if it carries weight in Europe.

We have to give ourselves a constitution which marks the birth of Europe as a political entity.

Are we all clear that we want to build something that can aspire to be a world power? In other words, not just a trading bloc but a political entity. Do we realise that our nation states, taken individually, would find it far more difficult to assert their existence and their identity on the world stage.

Italy is divided between us and them, rich and poor, north and south, young and old, employed and unemployed.

If you don't want to call it a European army, don't call it a European army. You can call it 'Margaret', you can call it 'Mary-Anne', you can find any name, but it is a joint effort for peace-keeping missions - the first time you have a joint, not bilateral, effort at European level.