Spinelli, Altiero (1907–1989)

Italian journalist, politician, and proponent of European federalism. An early anti-Fascist activist, he was co-author of the Ventonene manifesto in 1941, the clarion call of the European Federalist Movement, which he founded in 1943. He served as a member of the European Commission 1967–70, the Italian chamber of deputies 1976–79, and the European Parliament 1976–87. His principal achievement was the draft treaty establishing the European Union in 1984.

As a member of the European Parliament he joined the Communist group, although he had long ceased to belong to the Italian Communist Party.