Giuseppe Pella

Nationality

Italy

Date of Birth

1902

Date of Death

1981

Political
Preference

Christian Democrat

Giuseppe Pella, born in Valdengo, Piedmont, graduated in Economy and Commerce. After the war he held several positions in the Italian government, including Minister of Finance and Budget (1948-1953) in the government of Alcide de Gasperi. From this position, Pella was involved in the work of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), where he supported plans to reduce intra-European tariffs and the elimination of import quotas. In that sense, Pella worked for a European free trade economy, although it should be implemented carefully in order not to harm the domestic social-economic balance of Italy.

In July 1950, he presented within the OEEC what became known as the Pella Plan. This plan aimed to create within ten years a European free trade zone. The return to free trade, according to Pella, should be gradual, in order to give vital industry a chance to adapt to the prospect of competition. In that sense, the Pella Plan was a response to the Stikker Plan, which was a lot more ambitious in freeing up European trade.

In 1954, Pella was appointed as the 31st Prime Minister of Italy. Resigning a year later, he reappeared in government as Minister of Foreign Affairs under Adone Zoli and Antonio Segni until 1960.