Romano Prodi
Church Ready to Forgo Tax Breaks
Under pressure from the European commission and Romano Prodi's centre-left government, the Roman Catholic church has signaled its willingness to give up some of the tax breaks it gets from the Italian state.
Prodi Denies Wrongdoing in Eu Embezzlement Investigation
Italy's prime minister, Romano Prodi, said last night he had learnt he was under investigation in a fraud inquiry, but denied any wrongdoing.
Italy's Senators Vote to Give Prodi Government Another Chance
After a day of fevered speculation about rumoured betrayals and supposed conspiracies, Italy's senators last night voted to give Romano Prodi's centre-left government another chance.
Prodi Wins Senate Confidence Vote
Romano Prodi tonight pulled his centre-left government through the gravest emergency of its nine months in office, winning a vote of confidence in the senate by just two votes.
Crisis Talks With Italy's Rival Parties Produce No End to Deadlock
Italy's head of state, President Giorgio Napolitano, will today wrap up crisis talks on the political impasse brought on by the collapse of Romano Prodi's centre-left government, but last night there were few obvious solutions to the deadlock.
Crisis Talks Begin After Prodi Resignation
The Italian president, Giorgio Napolitano, today began crisis talks with Italian politicians after the resignation of the prime minister, Romano Prodi, yesterday.
Senate Defeat Sparks Prodi Government Crisis
Romano Prodi's centre-left Italian government has plunged into its most serious crisis since taking office nine months ago after a shattering parliamentary rebuff over its foreign policy.
Prodi Fights to Save 'clean' Image After Anti-corruption Judge Quits
Romano Prodi's centre-left government was battling to defend its image yesterday as a "clean" alternative to Silvio Berlusconi and the right, after successive scandals that have besmirched its reputation.
Prodi Faces Test Over Extradition of 26 Cia Agents
Italy's prime minister, Romano Prodi, was facing a political dilemma yesterday after it emerged that prosecutors had asked his government to demand the extradition of 26 CIA agents from the US so they can be put on trial for kidnapping a terrorist suspect.
Senate Votes Cast Cloud Over Prodi's Hopes of Running Italy
The chances of Romano Prodi being able to form Italy's next government hung by a thread last night after two crucial votes in the new parliament threw into stark relief the difficulties he and the centre-left face in passing laws.
Prodi's Coalition Clears First Senate Hurdle
The centre-left coalition of the Italian prime-minister-in waiting, Romano Prodi, won its first parliamentary test today.
Prodi Quickly Caught in Row Over Remarks About Hamas
Italy's prime minister-in-waiting, Romano Prodi, yesterday stumbled into his first big row since winning this week's general election when he was quoted as saying he would try to get the European Union to change its approach to Hamas.
Chirac Congratulates Prodi on Election Win
The French president, Jacques Chirac, today became the first foreign leader to congratulate Romano Prodi on his narrow win in the Italian general election.
Prodi Pushes to Form New Government
Romano Prodi announced today the start of efforts to try and form Italy's next government, despite prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's continued refusal to concede defeat in the general election and demands for a large-scale vote recount.
A Triumph of Sorts As the Professor Beats the Clown
Romano Prodi seemed assured of a majority in both houses of parliament, though the fate of Italy's next government could rest on a knife edge in the senate and its very formation by the centre-left was last night challenged by Silvio Berlusconi.
Prodi Claims Victory in Italy Poll
Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition today claimed victory in the lower house of Italy's parliament, following a dramatic general election.
Prodi Wins Italy's Election - Exit Polls
Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi looks to have narrowly lost the country's general election to a leftwing coalition led by the former European commission president, Romano Prodi, according to exit polls released immediately after voting ended today.
Prodi Deemed Winner in Italy Election Debate
An unexpectedly animated Romano Prodi threw Silvio Berlusconi on to the defensive last night in the first televised debate of Italy's general election campaign.
Berlusconi and Prodi Square Off in Tv Debate
Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and Romano Prodi, the man who aims to oust him, clashed on television last night in a high-profile debate during which both men strove to lure undecided voters.
Voters Batter Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister, suffered a stinging defeat in regional elections yesterday in a possible sign that voters are preparing to oust him in favour of his rival Romano Prodi at a general election next year.
EU Still Split on Prodi's Successor
EU leaders are facing a bruising battle over who will succeed Romano Prodi as president of the European commission when they meet for the crunch Brussels constitutional summit tomorrow. France and Germany have been supporting the prime minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, or his...
Prodi Irritated By Jewish Criticism
Romano Prodi rebuffed criticism last night that the European commission was guilty of anti-semitism. But the EC president said that plans for a seminar with the World Jewish Congress were suspended for the time being, pending clarifications from its leaders. On Monday Mr Prodi...
Prodi Warns of Two-speed Eu
UK could be left in the slow lane, says head of commission. Europe might end up operating at two speeds if stalled negotiations on a new constitution are not successfully concluded this year, the European commission president, Romano Prodi, predicted yesterday.
Prodi Escapes Uninjured As Bomb Explodes
A parcel bomb exploded in the hands of European Commission President Romano Prodi and burst into flames as he opened it yesterday, but he escaped unhurt.
Prodi Aide Hits Out at 'ignorant' British Minister
The president of the European commission, Romano Prodi, has angrily dismissed a call by the Foreign Office minister, Denis MacShane, to give his full attention to Europe or resign. Dispensing with the usual diplomatic pleasantries, Mr Prodi's political adviser, Marco Vignudelli, said Mr...
Quit Now, Britain Tells Prodi
MacShane in outspoken attack. Britain's outspoken minister for Europe, Denis MacShane, yesterday called on the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, either to give up his job or his ambition of returning to Italian politics.
Prodi's Pledge on Eu Fraud
Romano Prodi, the president of the European Commission, pledged to tighten financial controls and crack down on fraud yesterday after a report by auditors found accounts for most of the European Union's €100bn (£69.9bn) annual budget were unreliable.
Anger at Prodi's Italian Manifesto
The European commission president, Romano Prodi, was accused of improper electioneering in his native Italy yesterday after calling on its centre-left parties to join forces in next year's European polls. Anger in Rome, where members of Silvio Berlusconi's government demanded that he...
Prodi Prepares for Eu Fraud Grilling
Romano Prodi, the European commission president, is to resist demands for resignations when he is grilled over a long-simmering fraud scandal by angry MEPs today. Commission sources insisted last night that no evidence of personal gain had emerged from investigations into alleged double...
Prodi in Trouble As Eu 'fraud' Scandal Grows
Romano Prodi faces a long hot autumn as he is forced to explain a simmering scandal that has been dubbed a 'vast enterprise of looting'.
Prodi Pushes for Firmer Brussels Hand on Eu Purse
The European commission president, Romano Prodi, appealed for less national intervention in the EU's financial decision-making yesterday.
Prodi Backs Down on Farm Reform
Romano Prodi, the president of the European commission, was yesterday forced to distance himself from a report he ordered which called for a radical overhaul of how the EU spends its €100bn (£70.3bn) budget. Mr Prodi faced a noisy rebellion by several members of the 20-strong...
Prodi Under Fire for Federalist Proposals
The European Union needs greater powers and a simpler constitution to help it play a bigger role in the world and be better understood by its citizens, the commission president Romano Prodi said yesterday. But his proposals immediately put him on a collision course with the bigger members...
Prodi Calls for End to Eu Veto
The president of the European commission, Romano Prodi, today outlined his vision of a federalised EU and called for an end to the right of members to veto decisions, setting up a likely battle with Britain and other EU states. Unveiling the commission's contribution to ideas on the...
European Parliament Minds Its Languages
It was like the "first day at school", said a beaming Romano Prodi, surveying the European parliament yesterday as new boys and girls from Lithuania to Slovakia gave a foretaste of the future of the continent. With just three weeks to go before the EU's biggest expansion is sanctioned,...
Prodi pulls down the house of cards
Romano Prodi, the president of European commission, who described Brussels's fiscal rulebook as "stupid", stuck by his guns yesterday when he was called before the European parliament to explain his comments in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde.
Europeans Round on Prodi for 'stupid' Remark
Leading European figures today pounced on the European commission president, Romano Prodi, after he rubbished Europe's strict budget rules as "stupid". Edmund Stoiber, the centre-right German politician who almost beat the chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, in the federal election last month,...
Prodi is Pushing an Outdated Vision of Europe, Says Straw
The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, has comprehensively rejected an ambitious reform package proposed by the European commission president, Romano Prodi.
Prodi Seeks Powers to Give Eu Global Clout
Romano Prodi threw down a direct challenge to EU governments yesterday by demanding that the European commission be handed a bigger role in foreign policy to give the union a "single voice" on the world stage. In an ambitious and almost certainly unrealistic bid for greater powers for the...
Prodi Proposes 'grand Political Project' for Europe
Romano Prodi, the president of the European commission, today called for Brussels to be given greater powers on foreign and domestic policy as part of a "grand political project" for Europe. In a speech sure to raise hackles not just in London but other European capitals, Mr Prodi...
Prodi Warns That Iraq War Could Strain Alliance
America must avoid taking action on Iraq that would damage the global anti-terrorist coalition, Romano Prodi, the European commission president, warned yesterday. Speaking in advance of tomorrow's EU-US summit, the first since the September 11 attacks, he said it was vital for these...
Schröder and Prodi Try to Make Up
Gerhard Schröder and Romano Prodi were last night trying to bury the hatchet between Germany and the European Commission, following months of sniping by Berlin.
Ian Black: Jenin Rattles Prodi's Baby
Steaming hot coffee, pain au chocolat and freshly cut flowers on a sparkling white tablecloth make for a good start to a drizzly Brussels day, with Romano Prodi in pensive mood about Europe, his native Italy and - unusually but inevitably - the Middle East.
Defiant Prodi Warns of Us Rift
Romano Prodi, the president of the European commission, yesterday warned Washington not to try to dictate the EU's economic and political agenda, and appealed to President George Bush to pull back from the brink of a full-blown transatlantic trade war on steel. In an unusually robust...
After a day of fevered speculation about rumoured betrayals and supposed conspiracies, Italy's senators last night voted to give Romano Prodi's centre-left government another chance.
Prodi Wins Senate Confidence Vote
Romano Prodi tonight pulled his centre-left government through the gravest emergency of its nine months in office, winning a vote of confidence in the senate by just two votes.
Crisis Talks With Italy's Rival Parties Produce No End to Deadlock
Italy's head of state, President Giorgio Napolitano, will today wrap up crisis talks on the political impasse brought on by the collapse of Romano Prodi's centre-left government, but last night there were few obvious solutions to the deadlock.
Crisis Talks Begin After Prodi Resignation
The Italian president, Giorgio Napolitano, today began crisis talks with Italian politicians after the resignation of the prime minister, Romano Prodi, yesterday.
Senate Defeat Sparks Prodi Government Crisis
Romano Prodi's centre-left Italian government has plunged into its most serious crisis since taking office nine months ago after a shattering parliamentary rebuff over its foreign policy.
Prodi Fights to Save 'clean' Image After Anti-corruption Judge Quits
Romano Prodi's centre-left government was battling to defend its image yesterday as a "clean" alternative to Silvio Berlusconi and the right, after successive scandals that have besmirched its reputation.
Prodi Faces Test Over Extradition of 26 Cia Agents
Italy's prime minister, Romano Prodi, was facing a political dilemma yesterday after it emerged that prosecutors had asked his government to demand the extradition of 26 CIA agents from the US so they can be put on trial for kidnapping a terrorist suspect.
Senate Votes Cast Cloud Over Prodi's Hopes of Running Italy
The chances of Romano Prodi being able to form Italy's next government hung by a thread last night after two crucial votes in the new parliament threw into stark relief the difficulties he and the centre-left face in passing laws.
Prodi's Coalition Clears First Senate Hurdle
The centre-left coalition of the Italian prime-minister-in waiting, Romano Prodi, won its first parliamentary test today.
Prodi Quickly Caught in Row Over Remarks About Hamas
Italy's prime minister-in-waiting, Romano Prodi, yesterday stumbled into his first big row since winning this week's general election when he was quoted as saying he would try to get the European Union to change its approach to Hamas.
Chirac Congratulates Prodi on Election Win
The French president, Jacques Chirac, today became the first foreign leader to congratulate Romano Prodi on his narrow win in the Italian general election.
Prodi Pushes to Form New Government
Romano Prodi announced today the start of efforts to try and form Italy's next government, despite prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's continued refusal to concede defeat in the general election and demands for a large-scale vote recount.
A Triumph of Sorts As the Professor Beats the Clown
Romano Prodi seemed assured of a majority in both houses of parliament, though the fate of Italy's next government could rest on a knife edge in the senate and its very formation by the centre-left was last night challenged by Silvio Berlusconi.
Prodi Claims Victory in Italy Poll
Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition today claimed victory in the lower house of Italy's parliament, following a dramatic general election.
Prodi Wins Italy's Election - Exit Polls
Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi looks to have narrowly lost the country's general election to a leftwing coalition led by the former European commission president, Romano Prodi, according to exit polls released immediately after voting ended today.
Prodi Deemed Winner in Italy Election Debate
An unexpectedly animated Romano Prodi threw Silvio Berlusconi on to the defensive last night in the first televised debate of Italy's general election campaign.
Berlusconi and Prodi Square Off in Tv Debate
Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and Romano Prodi, the man who aims to oust him, clashed on television last night in a high-profile debate during which both men strove to lure undecided voters.
Voters Batter Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister, suffered a stinging defeat in regional elections yesterday in a possible sign that voters are preparing to oust him in favour of his rival Romano Prodi at a general election next year.
EU Still Split on Prodi's Successor
EU leaders are facing a bruising battle over who will succeed Romano Prodi as president of the European commission when they meet for the crunch Brussels constitutional summit tomorrow. France and Germany have been supporting the prime minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, or his...
Prodi Irritated By Jewish Criticism
Romano Prodi rebuffed criticism last night that the European commission was guilty of anti-semitism. But the EC president said that plans for a seminar with the World Jewish Congress were suspended for the time being, pending clarifications from its leaders. On Monday Mr Prodi...
Prodi Warns of Two-speed Eu
UK could be left in the slow lane, says head of commission. Europe might end up operating at two speeds if stalled negotiations on a new constitution are not successfully concluded this year, the European commission president, Romano Prodi, predicted yesterday.
Prodi Escapes Uninjured As Bomb Explodes
A parcel bomb exploded in the hands of European Commission President Romano Prodi and burst into flames as he opened it yesterday, but he escaped unhurt.
Prodi Aide Hits Out at 'ignorant' British Minister
The president of the European commission, Romano Prodi, has angrily dismissed a call by the Foreign Office minister, Denis MacShane, to give his full attention to Europe or resign. Dispensing with the usual diplomatic pleasantries, Mr Prodi's political adviser, Marco Vignudelli, said Mr...
Quit Now, Britain Tells Prodi
MacShane in outspoken attack. Britain's outspoken minister for Europe, Denis MacShane, yesterday called on the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, either to give up his job or his ambition of returning to Italian politics.
Prodi's Pledge on Eu Fraud
Romano Prodi, the president of the European Commission, pledged to tighten financial controls and crack down on fraud yesterday after a report by auditors found accounts for most of the European Union's €100bn (£69.9bn) annual budget were unreliable.
Anger at Prodi's Italian Manifesto
The European commission president, Romano Prodi, was accused of improper electioneering in his native Italy yesterday after calling on its centre-left parties to join forces in next year's European polls. Anger in Rome, where members of Silvio Berlusconi's government demanded that he...
Prodi Prepares for Eu Fraud Grilling
Romano Prodi, the European commission president, is to resist demands for resignations when he is grilled over a long-simmering fraud scandal by angry MEPs today. Commission sources insisted last night that no evidence of personal gain had emerged from investigations into alleged double...
Prodi in Trouble As Eu 'fraud' Scandal Grows
Romano Prodi faces a long hot autumn as he is forced to explain a simmering scandal that has been dubbed a 'vast enterprise of looting'.
Prodi Pushes for Firmer Brussels Hand on Eu Purse
The European commission president, Romano Prodi, appealed for less national intervention in the EU's financial decision-making yesterday.
Prodi Backs Down on Farm Reform
Romano Prodi, the president of the European commission, was yesterday forced to distance himself from a report he ordered which called for a radical overhaul of how the EU spends its €100bn (£70.3bn) budget. Mr Prodi faced a noisy rebellion by several members of the 20-strong...
Prodi Under Fire for Federalist Proposals
The European Union needs greater powers and a simpler constitution to help it play a bigger role in the world and be better understood by its citizens, the commission president Romano Prodi said yesterday. But his proposals immediately put him on a collision course with the bigger members...
Prodi Calls for End to Eu Veto
The president of the European commission, Romano Prodi, today outlined his vision of a federalised EU and called for an end to the right of members to veto decisions, setting up a likely battle with Britain and other EU states. Unveiling the commission's contribution to ideas on the...
European Parliament Minds Its Languages
It was like the "first day at school", said a beaming Romano Prodi, surveying the European parliament yesterday as new boys and girls from Lithuania to Slovakia gave a foretaste of the future of the continent. With just three weeks to go before the EU's biggest expansion is sanctioned,...
Prodi pulls down the house of cards
Romano Prodi, the president of European commission, who described Brussels's fiscal rulebook as "stupid", stuck by his guns yesterday when he was called before the European parliament to explain his comments in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde.
Europeans Round on Prodi for 'stupid' Remark
Leading European figures today pounced on the European commission president, Romano Prodi, after he rubbished Europe's strict budget rules as "stupid". Edmund Stoiber, the centre-right German politician who almost beat the chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, in the federal election last month,...
Prodi is Pushing an Outdated Vision of Europe, Says Straw
The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, has comprehensively rejected an ambitious reform package proposed by the European commission president, Romano Prodi.
Prodi Seeks Powers to Give Eu Global Clout
Romano Prodi threw down a direct challenge to EU governments yesterday by demanding that the European commission be handed a bigger role in foreign policy to give the union a "single voice" on the world stage. In an ambitious and almost certainly unrealistic bid for greater powers for the...
Prodi Proposes 'grand Political Project' for Europe
Romano Prodi, the president of the European commission, today called for Brussels to be given greater powers on foreign and domestic policy as part of a "grand political project" for Europe. In a speech sure to raise hackles not just in London but other European capitals, Mr Prodi...
Prodi Warns That Iraq War Could Strain Alliance
America must avoid taking action on Iraq that would damage the global anti-terrorist coalition, Romano Prodi, the European commission president, warned yesterday. Speaking in advance of tomorrow's EU-US summit, the first since the September 11 attacks, he said it was vital for these...
Schröder and Prodi Try to Make Up
Gerhard Schröder and Romano Prodi were last night trying to bury the hatchet between Germany and the European Commission, following months of sniping by Berlin.
Ian Black: Jenin Rattles Prodi's Baby
Steaming hot coffee, pain au chocolat and freshly cut flowers on a sparkling white tablecloth make for a good start to a drizzly Brussels day, with Romano Prodi in pensive mood about Europe, his native Italy and - unusually but inevitably - the Middle East.
Defiant Prodi Warns of Us Rift
Romano Prodi, the president of the European commission, yesterday warned Washington not to try to dictate the EU's economic and political agenda, and appealed to President George Bush to pull back from the brink of a full-blown transatlantic trade war on steel. In an unusually robust...