THE Committees of Italians Abroad (COM.IT.ES.) They are one of the tools through which Italians living outside Italy can participate in the life of their community and convey the needs of their compatriots to Italian institutions.
They are not private associations, they are not bodies of the Consulate and they are not political parties: they are representative bodies of the Italian community residing abroad, provided for by Italian law. Their regulation is mainly contained in the Law 23 October 2003, n. 286.
What does COM.IT.ES mean?
The acronym means Committees of Italians Abroad.
The COM.IT.ES. were originally established in 1985 and subsequently their organization and functions were profoundly redefined by Law no. 286 of 2003.
The law establishes that COM.IT.ES. is the representative body of Italians abroad in relations with Italian diplomatic and consular representations.
In other words, the Committee should constitute a bridge between the Italian community and the Consulate or Embassy, collecting citizens’ needs, problems and proposals and bringing them to the attention of the institutions.
Where COM.IT.ES exist.
A COM.IT.ES. can be established in the consular districts in which there are at least 3,000 Italian citizens registered in the lists required by law. In constituencies with fewer than 3,000 Italian citizens, Committees may be established according to the procedures established by law.
The number of members depends on the size of the Italian community:
- 12 members in constituencies with fewer than 100,000 compatriots;
- 18 members in constituencies with more than 100,000 compatriots.
The law also allows the co-option of foreign citizens of Italian origin, up to a third of the elected members.
Who elects the COM.IT.ES.
The members of COM.IT.ES. are elected directly by Italians residing abroad in the relevant consular district.
Elections are held by mail, according to the procedures established by law. For the 2026 elections, the Italian Embassy in Brasilia has reminded that Italian citizens who have resided in the constituency for at least six months and have submitted an application to be registered on the electoral roll are eligible to participate.
The mandate of the members is to five years.
What are the tasks of COM.IT.ES.
COM.IT.ES.’s mission is not simply to organize events for Italians. The law assigns it a rather broad set of responsibilities.
1. Representing Italians
This is probably the most important function.
The Committee must gather the needs of the Italian community and represent them in its relations with the Consulate and, through the established procedures, also with local institutions.
The law also provides that, in agreement with the consular authority, the Committee may represent the interests of the Italian community before local authorities and institutions. Issues regarding relations between states are, of course, excluded.
2. Identify community problems
COM.IT.ES. must contribute to identifying the needs of a social, cultural and civil of the Italian community.
It can also do so through studies, research, meetings with citizens, and collaboration with local associations and organizations.
This means that they should have a concrete understanding of the reality of Italians in their constituency: young people, the elderly, families, workers, pensioners, new emigrants, and people who have lived in the country for generations.
3. Protect citizens’ rights and interests
The COM.IT.ES. cooperates with the consular authority in protecting the rights and interests of Italians residing in the consular district.
The law specifically calls for the protection of Italian civil and workers’ rights, in compliance with the laws of the host country.
It is important to clarify one point, however: COM.IT.ES. does not replace the Consulate, a lawyer, a patronage or a judicial authority.. Its role is primarily one of representation, collaboration, listening, and institutional dialogue.
4. Promote Italian culture and language
Another important function concerns the conservation and valorization of the Italian cultural heritage.
COM.IT.ES. can collaborate in the creation of cultural, educational, and social initiatives, including those aimed at maintaining ties with the Italian language, history, and culture. The legislation specifically calls for the dissemination of Italian history, traditions, and the Italian language.
This can translate, for example, into:
- cultural initiatives;
- conferences;
- activities for young people;
- promotion of the Italian language;
- demonstrations on the history of emigration;
- collaboration with schools and associations;
- sports and recreational activities.
5. Pay attention to young people
The law attaches particular importance to youth participation.
COM.IT.ES. should therefore encourage the involvement of new generations in the Italian community, preventing the relationship with Italy from being interrupted as generations pass.
This is a particularly important issue in countries like Brazil, where there are very large communities of Italian origin, often made up of people with ties to Italy through parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents.
6. Social, educational and training assistance
The areas indicated by the law also include:
- social assistance;
- school assistance;
- professional training;
- equal opportunities;
- sport;
- free time;
- recreational activities.
COM.IT.ES. can therefore collaborate with the Consulate, local authorities, associations, charities, and other local organizations to develop community-focused initiatives.
A bridge between communities and institutions
The function of COM.IT.ES. can be summarized with a simple image: it’s a bridge.
On one side there are Italian citizens residing abroad, with their needs, expectations, and problems.
On the other hand there are the Italian institutions, especially Embassies and Consulates, in addition to the other competent Italian institutions.
COM.IT.ES. should facilitate dialogue between these two entities.
The law also provides for a regular flow of information between the consular authorities and the Committee on activities and initiatives affecting the Italian community. Joint meetings are also planned to discuss particularly important projects and initiatives.
COM.IT.ES. and Consulate: They’re not the same thing
This is a fundamental distinction.
The Consulate is an authority of the Italian State and performs administrative and consular functions: citizenship, civil status, passports, consular assistance, electoral services and other responsibilities provided by law.
The COM.IT.ES. is a representative body of the Italian community.
He does not give orders to the Consulate and cannot replace the consular authority. At the same time, his role should not be that of a simple “collaborator” of the Consulate: the law attributes to him his own function of representation of Italians residing abroad.
COM.IT.ES. and Italian associations
Another important aspect is collaboration with the associative world.
The law expressly provides for collaboration with institutions, associations and committees present in the consular district.
For this reason, an effective COM.IT.ES. should maintain relationships with cultural associations, Italian clubs, educational institutions, charities, professional organizations, and other community entities.
Its task should not be to replace these organizations, but rather to network them and represent the overall needs of the community.
What COM.IT.ES. is not
It is equally important to clarify what COM.IT.ES. it can’t be.
It is not:
- a political party;
- a trade union organization;
- a Consulate office;
- a patronage;
- a law firm;
- a judicial authority;
- a private association;
- an organization that can make decisions on behalf of Italian institutions.
Its main power is that of representation, proposal, collaboration and institutional dialogue.
Why it is important for Italians in Brazil
In a country like Brazil, characterized by a historical and numerically significant Italian presence, the role of COM.IT.ES. can take on particular importance.
The Italian community is not, in fact, homogeneous: it includes citizens who recently moved from our country, Italians who have lived in Brazil for many years, retirees, entrepreneurs, professionals, students, and numerous people from families of Italian origin.
The COM.IT.ES. should therefore be able to listen to different realities and transform the community’s needs into concrete proposals, while maintaining constant contact with Consulates, Embassies, associations and local institutions.
A representation that should start from the citizens
Ultimately, COM.IT.ES. should not be seen simply as the organization that organizes a few Italian events or celebrates national anniversaries.
Its function provided by law is much broader: represent Italians abroad, listen to their needs, protect their interests through collaboration with the competent authorities, promote Italian culture and language and contribute to the social and civil development of the community.
And precisely because it is a body elected by citizens, its effectiveness depends to a large extent on the ability of its members to stay in touch with the community that elected them, inform it about its activities and transform the requests of compatriots into concrete initiatives and proposals.
For Italians living abroad, therefore, COM.IT.ES. should represent one of the main forms of democratic participation in the life of the Italian community outside national borders.