Most raw materials needed by industry and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported. Over the past decade， Italy has pursued a tight fiscal policy in order to meet the requirements of the Economic and Monetary Union and has benefited from lower interest and inflation rates. Italy joined the Euro from its introduction in 1999.
Italy，s economic performance has at times lagged behind that of its EU partners， and the current government has enacted numerous shortterm reforms aimed at improving competitiveness and longterm growth. It has moved slowly， however， on implementingimplement n.工具， 器具 vt.贯彻， 实现 v.执行 certain structural reforms favoured by economists， such as lightening the high tax burden and overhauling Italy，s rigid labour market and expensive pension system， because of the current economic slowdownslowdown n.降低速度， 减速 and opposition from labour unions.
Visit the Country
Italy is a land of excitement， bursting with colour， friendly people and fabulous things to see and do. If you are looking for a good holiday destination choice or will be conducting business here， then you won，t be disappointed in the facilities availableavailable adj.可用到的， 可利用的， 有用的， 有空的， 接受探访的. There are lots of wonderful things to see and do， from sightseeing to sport and entertainment activities and exciting festivals not to be missed. Ideas and suggestions for children，s entertainment， transport information and general travel tips to the area are also included on these pages. We have information on shopping and dining and give you our selection of the top 10 things to do while visiting. Climate/weather details are also mentionedmention vt.提及， 说起 n.提及， 说起 v.论及， 提及 so you，ll know the best time to enjoy this exciting area.
You can visit Roman ruins， gawk at Renaissance art， stay in tiny medievalmedieval adj.中世纪的， 仿中世纪的， 老式的， (贬)原始的 hill towns， go skiing in the Alps， explore the canals of Venice and gaze at beautiful churches. You can dine on scrumptious cuisines， sip delicate wines， shop for a new wardrobe， drift past ancient buildings and under quaint bridges in a gondola or simply soak up the sun on a sandy shore.
Situated in Mediterranean Europe， Italy has land frontiers with France in the northwest， Switzerland and Austria in the north and Slovenia in the northeast and the ocean on all other fronts.
Of all European countries， Italy is perhaps the hardest to classify. It is a modern， industrialized nation. It is the harbingerharbinger n.先驱， 预兆 vt.预告， 做……的前驱 of style， with designers regularly leading the way with each season，s fashions. But it is also， to an equal degree， a Mediterranean country， with all that that implies.
In towns and villages all over the country， life grinds to a halt in the middle of the day for a siestasiesta n.午睡 vt.午睡， 午休. Italians are volatile， rarely indifferent to anything， and seem to shout a lot. Don，t be put off； this is the Italian way of communication. On the whole they are a friendly bunch. However it，s not surprising to find yourself encountering disdain towards tourists one moment and an hour later be treated to incredibly generous hospitalityhospitality n.好客， 宜人， 盛情. If there is a single national characteristic， it，s to embrace life to the full.
There are literally hundreds of local festivals taking place across the country on any given day. Many of these have a religious twist as Catholicism still dominates people，s lives here to an obvious degree. Most are worth attending as whether watching or partaking， you are bound to have fun.
If you are looking for a holiday destination that，ll take you back in time yet is very much part of the 21st century， then Italy is a good choice. With outstanding hotels， tons to see and do； you，ll be impressed. The Italians are not joking when they call their home “Il Belpaese”， the “Beautiful Country”.