In the century since Italy invaded Libya and decimated its population under a brutal military occupation, Rome has seen its fortunes rise and fall repeatedly in its one-time colony. Read more…
Eni, Italy’s state-controlled energy company, has urged Europe not to extend sanctions against Libya to include its oil and gas assets, warning that such steps would be “shooting ourselves in the foot”. Read more…
By Guy Dinmore and Eleonora de Sabata in Rome, Published: March 15 2011
A Moroccan ferry carrying 1,800 people fleeing Libya was reported to be standing off Sicily on Tuesday after the Italian authorities denied it permission to enter port for refuelling. Read more…
By Guy Dinmore in Rome, Published: March 14 2011
Italy has imposed controls on Libya’s Banca UBAE, but the Rome-based bank – which handles payments for Libya’s oil and gas exports – was told it would be allowed to continue “normal” operations. Read more…
The lights are still on in Libya thanks to continued gas production there by Eni, Italy’s state-controlled energy company, according to its chief executive.
In spite of the turmoil in Libya and the evacuation of many of Eni’s expatriate workers, Eni – led by Paolo Scaroni – has continued to work with the National Oil Company to produce oil and gas, although at considerably reduced levels.
Italian finance ministry officials just have to lift their gaze from their computers to be reminded of the complex web they face as they try to unravel Libya’s assets in Europe as a first step towards imposing possible sanctions. Read more…
By Guy Dinmore and Giulia Segreti in Rome and Joshua Chaffin in Brussels, published: March 1 2011
Libyan shareholdings in Italian companies worth billions of euros could be frozen by Rome as Silvio Berlusconi makes what diplomats describe as a tardy break with Muammer Gaddafi’s regime. Read more…
By Guy Dinmore in Rome, Published: February 14 2011
A full month after Tunisia’s ousted president fled to Saudi Arabia, the official website of Italy’s foreign ministry – slow to keep up with events – still promotes the North African state as an “ideal” investment destination noted for its “political and social stability”. Read more…
by Guy Dinmore, published December 1 2010
Chinese companies are taking advantage of hard times in Europe by moving into Italy’s superyacht sector, buying well known brands that have fallen into bankruptcy. Read more…
