Russiagate and Italy’s governing coalition
A domestic political scandal threatens to destabilise the League-Five Star coalition
Experts & Staff
Teresa Coratella
Deputy Head, Rome office
Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
Italian and Polish foreign policy, European foreign policy, disinformation
Languages
Italian, Polish, English and basic French
Biography
Teresa Coratella is the deputy head of the Rome office at the European Council on Foreign Relations’ Rome office.
Coratella joined ECFR as an advocacy and communications officer in February 2011. Previously, she worked for the Warsaw-based Institute for Eastern Studies as programme assistant in charge of partnerships and development. She contributed to the organization of high level international conferences on foreign policy issues in several European capitals. She holds an MA in European Interdisciplinary Studies from the College of Europe, Natolin Campus, with a focus on the EU as a regional actor. She holds a BA in International Relations and wrote her final dissertation on Polish foreign policy between 1989 and 2004. Coratella is a member of WIIS(Women in International Security). She is a native speaker of Italian and Polish and speaks fluent English and basic French.
Salvini goes global
Matteo Salvini’s enthusiasm for Trump did not win him a meeting with the president; and his Washington visit this week may undermine Italy in Europe
How to govern a fragmented EU: What Europeans said at the ballot box
The results of the European election confront EU leaders with a considerable challenge: navigating a new, more fragmented, and polarised political environment
Poland and Italy: Best of frenemies
Russia and migration remain issues that divide the Polish and Italian governments from each other. And such disharmony could yet stymie cooperation between right-wing populists after the European Parliament poll.
Italy’s distracted political elite
May's European Parliament election will shape the future of Italian political parties – will it enable traditional mainstream parties to stage a recovery?
Italy’s Chinese dilemma
Ahead of Xi Jinping's visit to Italy, China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has joined the long series of issues that divide Italy's ruling parties
The League of Leagues: Pan-European cooperation against the EU
Matteo Salvini has launched the “League of Leagues” – an alliance of nationalist parties across the continent. And he brings friends
Italy plays in the Penta League
Can the unlikely bedfellows of the Five Star Movement and the League really make government work?
Italy votes: Europe in the Italian election
The primary European issues in the Italian election debate are migration, the future of the eurozone, and security/defence.
The End of the World #14: Interview with Martin Wolf
In this new episode of our summer series, ECFR's director Mark Leonard and Policy Fellow Anthony Dworkin talk with Martin Wolf about the economic origins…
Publications
Democratic defence: How Italy can lead the fight against Russian disinformation
Italy’s politics and social media remain vulnerable to Russian influence. But opportunities exist to strengthen itself for the future
Rome’s moment: Draghi, multilateralism, and Italy’s new strategy
Italy has an opportunity to position itself closer to the Franco-German engine and to help construct a multilateral system in which the EU and the US are equal partners
Together in trauma: Europeans and the world after covid-19
A new survey shows that, after the onset of the covid-19 crisis, there has been a rise in public support for unified EU action to tackle global threats
How to govern a fragmented EU: What Europeans said at the ballot box
The results of the European election confront EU leaders with a considerable challenge: navigating a new, more fragmented, and polarised political environment
Articles
A united front: Why Meloni should form a ‘Harris plan’ to secure US-Italy relations
The potential return of Donald Trump to the White House could affect US support for key Italian priorities. Giorgia Meloni should drop the political chameleon act and prepare for the possibility of a Democratic president
Rome’s resolutions: Lessons from the G7 summit in Italy
The G7 summit in Italy was overshadowed by domestic and European politics. But the rest of the Italian presidency and its Canadian successor can build on this summit’s hits and address some of its misses
Meloni’s multilateral mountain: The challenges facing Italy’s G7 presidency
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has repeatedly surprised her European counterparts with her alignment with the Western community. But as Italy begins its G7 presidency, she faces the daunting task of maintaining this unity amid rising tensions and challenges
In balance: How Italy can solve its China problem
Italy’s membership of the BRI risks harming its relations with G7 partners. It is time for it to carefully disentangle itself from the initiative
Migration first: Why Italy and Britain are working together on sea crossings
Italian efforts to formally enhance bilateral relations with other European states have largely faltered. This time may be different
The moment to choose: How migration politics could damage the Meloni government’s EU credentials
The Meloni government has largely adopted a ‘Russia-pragmatic’ approach to its EU and Ukraine policies. But pressure over migration within the coalition could harm relations with other European states
Whatever it breaks: Draghi’s downfall and the future of Italy
Draghi always knew that he could not depend on some members of his ruling coalition. Yet his legacy of leadership in the EU could survive his departure
Draghi race: Italian voters and Russia’s war on Ukraine
Draghi’s approach to Italian and EU policy on Russia is at odds with the public mood in Italy. He will need to act quickly if he is to convince voters at home to support his foreign policy choices
Italy’s challenging divorce from Russia
Russia’s war on Ukraine has prompted urgent changes in Italian foreign policy. Rome’s efforts to distance itself from Moscow are creating major challenges at home
Rome advantage: The Draghi government and Europe’s balance of power
With Mario Draghi staying on as prime minister, Italy has an opportunity to help lead an economic and political recovery from the pandemic that secures Europe’s future
Podcasts
Trump’s shadow: Reshaping politics and policy across Europe
Mark Leonard welcomes ECFR experts to unpack how Donald Trump’s presidency is reshaping Europe’s domestic politics and foreign policy
Africa: Not just about migration
In the first big multilateral test for prime minister Giorgia Meloni, this mini-series will explore the four main priorities of Italy’s 2024 G7 presidency: Ukraine, AI, infrastructure, and Africa
Infrastructures and connectivity: Building bridges
In the first big multilateral test for prime minister Giorgia Meloni, this mini-series will explore the four main priorities of Italy’s 2024 G7 presidency: Ukraine, AI, infrastructure, and Africa
The AI-talian job: challenges and opportunities
In the first big multilateral test for prime minister Giorgia Meloni, this mini-series will explore the four main priorities of Italy’s 2024 G7 presidency: Ukraine, AI, infrastructure, and Africa
Unity or disunity for Ukraine: that is the question
In the first big multilateral test for prime minister Giorgia Meloni, this mini-series will explore the four main priorities of Italy’s 2024 G7 presidency: Ukraine, AI, infrastructure, and Africa
Von der Leyen’s EU Commission: Picks for a Union that strives for more
Mark Leonard is meeting his ECFR colleagues, Tara Varma, Piotr Buras and Teresa Coratello in Berlin to go through the newly selected EU Commission. What…
The End of the World #14: Interview with Martin Wolf
In this new episode of our summer series, ECFR's director Mark Leonard and Policy Fellow Anthony Dworkin talk with Martin Wolf about the economic origins…
Events
13 Oct
From Milan towards Glasgow: for a Green Geopolitical Europe?
How can the EU and its member states seize the opportunity for a cohesive policy on green issues?
In the media
Meloni has no official mandate from the European Commission France isn’t happy about the visit: it is likely Meloni’s trip will be carefully staged as a big show of alignment with Trump
Teresa Coratella on what to expect from Meloni’s visit to the White House
This action plan lacks an important framework, Europe: such bilateral efforts, should not take place while ignoring EU priorities and strategies
Teresa Coratella on the international summit organized by Meloni with the UK, Turkey and the US
Washington has no desire to build a bridge with the European Union—and no one in Europe asked Meloni to play that role
Teresa Coratella on Giorgia Meloni’s attempt to hold the West together with Trump’s return
President Trump likes Meloni because of her pragmatism. Meloni looked beyond political divisions and tried to build relationships for Italian interests. That is the same pragmatism that Trump plays by
Teresa Coratella on Giorgia Meloni’s relations with Turmp
Poland peaks and stands out among all Eastern European states regarding leeway to the new Trumpian diplomacy. Warsaw will not miss the opportunity
Teresa Coratella on how Poland and other Eastern countries are experiencing Trumpian diplomacy