Italy, one of the European Union’s largest and founding countries, now has an unrelenting Europhile at its helm. After Italy’s supreme court ruled on the much-disputed election results, Romano Prodi, former president of the European Commission, is now prime minister of Italy. Narrow victory aside, he is widely expected to provide new impetus to EU integration and reform.

Prodi told the Sunday Times his dual priorities were to forge an alliance among the EU’s leading members and re-open discussions concerning the constitution (April 16).

The first priority, integrating a core group of EU countries, would clearly foster the Union’s federalist direction. These elite would be “the countries most determined to push for a common European policy”—namely, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and probably Belgium and Luxembourg (ibid.).

What about Britain? Prodi told the Times, “I believe it is difficult to include it among countries which are pushing for more integration. Britain has decided not to hold a referendum on Europe so it has not approved the European position. Evidently it believes in a policy which is more independent of the EU.”

With the leadership of this core group, Prodi hopes to push “more Europe” reforms. “Whether or not we will be a driving force, time will tell but member states must realize that they cannot have an advanced monetary policy on the one hand, and an old-fashioned economic policy on the other. The two must be linked.” These reforms would also include “the immediate appointment of an EU foreign minister and the abolition of the right of national vetoes on foreign-policy decisions taken at EU summits” (ibid.).

Prodi’s election reinforces an unmistakable trend: Europe is on the fast track to becoming a federal state. Even before Prodi’s announcement of his goals, Estonian mep and presidential candidate Toomas Hendrik told his local press that founding EU states were trying to convert the Eurozone into a “core group.” He warned that those members would “provoke a deep rift in the Continent” by creating a “federal state within the Union” that would sideline other member states (European Information Service, April 19).

Prodi’s second priority, as he told the Times, is a “simplified constitution which focuses on the big principles. That means the first part of the constitution, the charter of fundamental rights and possibly a social protocol. But we have to remove all the technical, detailed aspects which scared people” (op. cit.).

Prodi plans to put the constitution to EU voters in a referendum in 2009 at the same time as European parliamentary elections.

Austria’s Der Standard reported, “[W]e may finally see the beginning of a new phase of pragmatic, unspectacular but perhaps ultimately more successful and serious policy in Europe.” The paper pointed to the rise of Angela Merkel’s power in Germany as further evidence of a trend in Europe: “The time of loud macho-statesmen who are not all that interested in Europe but all the more in their egos and/or national aspects or business interests could be coming to an end” (bbc News, April 19).

Other Europhiles are elated with Prodi’s victory. “The results of this election go beyond Italy’s borders,” said Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. “Romano Prodi’s victory is also important for Europe, especially during this period needing a pro-European vision and direction. … I am convinced that Italy, steered by Prodi and his deep European experience, will once again contribute to Italy’s long EU tradition” (EUbusiness.com, April 11).

France’s Europe Minister Catherine Colonna told Prodi: “… I am convinced that you will play an essential role in the relaunch of Europe” (ibid.).

“Europe needs an Italy that does not waver. Italy and the EU’s interests coincide,” said EU Justice Minister Franco Frattini (ibid.).

In tandem with Italy’s stronger pro-EU shift, watch the country to make a clear departure from its current pro-U.S. position. Prodi intends to take Italian troops out of Iraq, for example.

Watch Italy deeply establish its position in Europe. Though Bible prophecy causes us to look to Germany to be the driving force in bringing Europe together in a final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire, history tells us we cannot ignore Italy—the seat of the “Holy” part of it. Watch for Italy, under Prodi’s leadership, to aid Berlin in creating a more unified, streamlined, powerful Europe.