L'assemblea dell'Ueo nella cooperazione aeronautica : l'Italia tra costruzione europea e offerta statunitense (1973-1985)

On September 1973, the Weu Assembly reintroduced the debate on aeronautical cooperation between the European countries highlighting the benefits engendered by industrial harmonization. Alessandro Pagni, director of external relations of Aeritalia, agreed with the proactive approach of the Weu and the European aeronautical industries, with a caveat: Italian industry did not want to compete against the American one, but to cooperate with, and to benefit from, its leading position in the global market. Thus, the Italian Parliament enacted the so-called "Legge Crociani" which funded the aeronautical production in cooperation with Boeing. This essay surveys the role of the Italian delegates and their link with the Italian foreign policy choices. Specifically, it analyses the technicians' attitude towards the debate on European cooperation in the aeronautic industry field aiming to illustrate the influence that experts have in shaping foreign and industrial policies. [Publishers' text].