Brothers of Italy, but not brothers of Europe? Assessing the position of Fratelli d’Italia towards the EU

The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of Fratelli d'Italia's EU positions by studying the party's parliamentary speeches at both the national and supranational levels. Through this analysis, we aim to assess if FdI represents a traditional Eurosceptic right-wing party or if it is more oriented towards utilitarian Euroalternativism, proper of conservative parties. Furthermore, given the complicated relationship that radical right parties have with the EU as they transition from opposition to government, we hope to determine whether this turning point represents a critical juncture in FdI’s orientations, signalling a shift to a more pragmatic dialectic with EU institutions. In this regard, it will be critical to evaluate FdI's positions on both polity and policy dimensions at various times and on occasion of significant decisions or crises. Moreover, we expect that further complexity is represented by the arena in which the party positions are expressed. If the national parliament represents the perfect forum in which to articulate harsh stances towards the EU due to its proximity to electors, the European Parliament seems to be a more insulated arena where pragmatism may be more convenient than radicalism. We can reasonably expect that the interaction between different arenas in different time frames will produce a complex and nuanced picture of FdI’s positions about the EU and the process of European integration and contribute to shedding light on the party’s "supranational identity".