Italy Meets Germany: A Forum for Young Leaders (IMG) is a network of students and young professionals who have an interest in exploring and supporting Italo- German Relations.

Participants join the forum by taking part in an IMG Weeklong Seminar, following which they are encouraged to conduct their own research and organize their own activity in the field.

ICD Weeklong Seminars are targeted at students and young professionals with an active interest in Italy and Germany.

The following issues will be included and explored:• The Italian-German economic partnership in the context of the Euro crisis:Can Germany rely on Italy economically at this time, when there is an urgent need for other traditionally strong nations to support the Euro Zone economy? Can Germany act as a pillar for Central and Western Europe, and Italy as a pillar for the Mediterranean?• Italian economic reinforcement:How will Italy once again play a key role on the European scene? Can Italy regain the confidence of its European neighbors, and if so, what measures must it taken to do so?• Public and private sector:How can cultural diplomacy contribute to strengthen economic relations? Can cultural diplomacy help to boost support between European neighbors at a time when perhaps hope in the EU is dwindling due to the crisis? Can cultural diplomacy play a key role in saving the Eurozone, or is its role too limited?• Italy and Germany as leaders of the Continental and the Mediterranean micro-regions that need to cooperate:Many are of the opinion that Italy and Germany need to exert greater influence over micro-regions in order to sustain the Euro Zone during the Euro Crisis.

Has Italian authority over the Mediterranean decreased following previous troubles of its own economy? If/when the euro Crisis is resolved, should Germany and Italy continue to lead micro-regions in order to avoid a repeat of similar problems?• The current political situation of Italy and Germany:What is the effect of the decline of the old parties and the new political deal (extremism, anti-European movements)? Can Italy successfully distance itself from the old regime (Berlusconi), or will another economic meltdown see a loss of support for the new leaders? Has the Euro Crisis lead to a lack of belief in the EU and thus an increased sense of national identity and extremism?