BBC ALBA’S EÒRPA EXAMINES THE PARALLELS BETWEEN ITALY'S NORTH-SOUTH ECONOMIC DIVISIONS
Wednesday 21 September, 8.30pm on BBC ALBA
In the first programme of the new series of BBC ALBA’s Eòrpa, Iain Macinnes examines the parallels between Italy's north-south economic divisions and similar differences between the countries in the north and the south of the EU.
Are there positive lessons to be learned from how Italy deals with its economic and cultural divides or do such divisions pose an insurmountable barrier to economic success, putting both Italy and the Eurozone at risk?
Eòrpa hears from some residents in Italy on their attitudes to the current economic divide.
Massimiliano Bacillieri ,a lawyer from Bologna in the north of Italy, said: “I am already sorry we have to support the south of Italy. Imagine having to support a country that isn’t ours. But what alternative do we have? I want to see if the south of Italy – if they don’t get any help – will they roll up their sleeves and get to work for themselves?”
Martino Bitetti, currently not working, from Bari in the south of Italy, said: “We have had some difficulties. Economic ones first of all, but also morally – because to get to a certain age and be put out of a company and out of the working population is one of the worst things that can happen to a person.”
Also in the programme Darren Laing uses information from a BBC Freedom of Information request to examine the implications of some early Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects in Scotland. Seven instances have been found where the land lease extends up to 105 years longer than the initial operating contract.
Economist Jim Cuthbert, on the findings of a study into the origins of PFI, said: “Advice was given from the treasury that giving a long initial lease like this helped with the process of getting the project off the government's books. Secondly, it was felt that this kind of long lease and the break clauses attached to these long leases helped to bind the public sector in.”
Produced by BBC Gàidhlig, Eòrpa’s weekly series will broadcast on BBC ALBA commencing Wednesday 21 September at 8.30pm and each consecutive Wednesday.