The EU defines AI as "systems that display intelligent behaviour": they impact on all human activities and have technological, legal, economic and social implications. Many countries have begun to regulate them, but formulating comprehensive regulations appears to be a challenge. The European Commission, concerned that the use of AI may 'cause violations of fundamental rights', has regulated 'high risk' and 'unacceptable risk' sectors. And Italy?

National calls for tenders, regional funding, PNRR funds: there are many resources available to municipalities, but potential beneficiaries often seem to lack the motivation to apply.This is the case with the PNRR funds for kindergartens: more than 3,400 municipalities with a serious shortage of childcare services did not participate in the 2020-2021 'asili nido' calls. What are the reasons? And what can be done to identify (and support) the municipalities with the greatest difficulties?

In the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate, 203 women now sit, 33.6% of the members of Italian Parliament (a percentage higher than the average for EU27 parliaments). At the Presidency of the Council, after 64 governments led by men, for the first time Italy has a woman (only 4 other EU countries do not have a man at the head of the executive). Since 2023, the main opposition party has also been led by a woman. But the road to equality is still a long one. And it also passes, in 2024, through the renewal of the European Parliament.

To control costs and ensure greater administrative efficiency, in recent years many developed countries have approved territorial reforms that have led to mergers between municipalities. In Italy since 2002 the number of municipalities has thus fallen from 8,022 to 7,901. But what happens in the (rare) case of territorial division? The experience of Puglia, where five municipalities split voluntarily in the mid-Seventies

Between 1990 and 2016, the stock of foreign direct investment globally increased from USD 2,254 billion to USD 26,160 billion. Many governments have adopted mechanisms to control the acquisition of strategic companies and the procurement of critical raw materials and industrial products. Also, the European Union has encouraged member States to strengthen their regulatory framework: already 25 out of 27 are doing so. What about Italy?

Tax expenditures have steadily increased over the past six years. In 2022 there were 626 (+ 40%) with fiscal effects on the State budget of -82 billion euros (+ 72%). A further 114 local tax expenditures must be added to these,for a total of 740 benefits. These deviations from the "normal" tax regime increase the complexity of the system and reduce its transparency, in the face of significant revenue losses for public funds: 4% of GDP.

ERP is the policy-pillar of the European Union, both in terms of funds allocated (351 billion between 2014 and 2020) and objectives pursued (redistribution of wealth between regions and countries). Its effects in stimulating growth in lagging areas are, however, quite controversial. Not least because of the (little known) neighbourhood effect: why does being surrounded by poor regions affect the effectiveness of interventions? The case of Southern Europe (including Italian Mezzogiorno).

It replaced the previous casse mutue health insurance system, upholdinh healthcare as a social right. It is known to be one of the best in the world and, based on many international comparisons, it ranks among the topmost ones: avoidable mortality rates in Italy are among the lowest in the EU, while healthy life expectancy is 71.9 years, one of the highest figures. Public healthcare expenditure in Italy accounts for 7.1% of GDP: how does this compare to other healthcare systems in other countries? It is more or less expensive? What do performance indicators tell us?

Stroke in Italy affects 200,000 people every year. It is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability. And the outlook is not rosy: cases in Europe will increase by 34% between 2015 and 2035, causing 45% more deaths and an additional 25% more permanent disability. Can the damage be limited? Sure, and many regions are trying to raise awareness of life-saving behaviors to adopt in emergencies. But do health campaigns really work?

In the I legislature of the Republic, 4 female senators and 49 female deputies entered Parliament: 5% of those elected. In 2022, female parliamentarians reached 33% and, for the first time in the history of our country, a woman assumed the position of Prime Minister. The government led by Giorgia Meloni is one of the three governments with the highest number of women: 22. But at the local level, the path to equality is still long: out of 20 regions there is only one female governor and for every 100 mayors 85 are men.

Article 3 of the Constitution, approved on March 24, 1947, included gender equality among the founding principles of the newly formed Republic. Since then, legislation has changed a great deal in favor of women: from employment guarantees to legal and social protections, from the protection of sexual freedom to opportunities for access to the country's political life. In this, the Constitutional Court has played a leading role: its jurisprudence and urgings have been followed by fundamental reforms.

Violence against women is often invisible even in the eyes of justice workers: magistrates, lawyers, psychologists, counselors. How and where to intervene? In the 18th Legislature, the Senate Femicide Commission adopted a statistical approach to evaluate anti-violence policies with objective criteria. And it identified weaknesses in a protection system that still struggles to fully protect victims.