2008-09-13 09:05:02 -
Italy Defence and Security Report Q3 2008 - a new market research report on www.companiesandmarkets.com
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Blue chip Italian companies Telecom Italia and Pirelli were accused by prosecutors of failing in their duties of oversight for their role in an extensive wire-tapping scandal. A total of 34 suspects were being investigated by Milan prosecutors who in 2006 aid they had discovered a vast private spying network at the heart of Telecom Italia, which was then majority-controlled by Pirelli. The prosecutors said hundreds of files had been created on magistrates, industrialists, politicians, and football stars, using illegal phone taps. A number of people have been arrested, including 11 members of the finance police and the paramilitary Carabinieri on charges of corruption and illegally obtaining bank and phone records. According to
local media, he companies could face fines of up to EUR1.5mn (US$2.4mn) for their role in the case, although they issued statements saying they considered themselves to be injured parties in the affair. BMI notes that as far as fundamentals are concerned, Italy has a medium-term stable political outlook with a low risk from terrorist threat. This must be qualified by a continuing vulnerability to corruption at various levels within the political system, and an antagonistic relationship between the judiciary and politicians. A further complicating factor is the question of bias in the media, with new legislation expected to tackle this thorny question. The political system remains somewhat vulnerable to authoritarianism. There are currently no major conventional military threats to Italy, but the threat from international terrorism is significant. The threat of domestic terrorism has been significantly reduced since the dismantling of the extreme left-wing terrorist group, the Rosa Brigatta, though some fragmented members continue to operate. Italys withdrawal of troops from Iraq at the end of 2006 helped to reduce, but not eliminate, the threat from international terrorism. To defend against these threats and ensure the countrys national security, Italy boasts one of the largest armed forces in Europe, which is, under its budgetary constraints, modernising to adapt to the changing nature of threats and warfare, and focusing on force projection and complete integration at multinational levels. The defence industry has obtained significant domestic contracts in recent years, but is looking increasingly towards pan-European and trans-Atlantic ventures to ensure its growth.
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