Italian Membership in the EU: Impact on Political and Economic Course

The paper presents a study of the impact of the European Union on Italy`s economic and political course. Today the European Union has reached the most developed form of integration, however, such challenges as the debt crisis and the migration problem pose a threat to the EU development. Unresolved problems have contributed to the growth of Euroscepticism in the EU countries, especially in Italy. The Italian Republic, as a founding member of the European Union, plays a significant role in deepening multilateral cooperation. The participation of Italy in the European Union has a considerable impact on the country's economy and its foreign policy. In the first chapter of the investigation, the author analyzes the main theories of European integration and the priorities of Italy in the European Union. In the second chapter, the EU contribution in the economic and political development of Italy is investigated. In the third chapter, the author considers the Italian position on the main problems of the EU. As a result, it is proved that the membership of the Italian Republic in the European Union has a significant impact on the country's economy, which benefits from participation in the the European Single Market, as well as on foreign policy because Italy supports the EU peacekeeping operations. Key words: European Union, Italy, Common Foreign and Security Policy, European Single Market, EU anti-crisis policy, migration crisis, Brexit.