ging sudden events appropriately, but by developing a broader comprehensive strategy involving all the capabilities of our society. The defence of the State, in fact, cannot and should not be limited exclusively to the indispensable action of the Armed Forces. It must be a unicum in which every segment of society, according to aptitude and ability, contributes to the creation of the broad and coordinated security framework that is a real guarantee of freedom for our nation. 6. This challenge requires the Government and Parliament to examine major national security and defence issues, in order to define a structured National Security Strategy that is able to cope with and manage the security problems Italy will have to face in the future, in a coordinated and synergistic way. 7. In addition, the intense activity carried out by the Defence in theatres of intervention means that renewed attention needs to be given to the “command of the armed forces”, in particular during military operations and especially in the light of the many tasks undertaken in support of the international stability in recent decades. Leaving aside the functions of the constitutional authorities, it seems useful to reflect on the adequacy of the governing bodies and their related support structures, developed over the years to deal with situations of crisis or emergency. Their functioning, in fact, is strongly influenced by both the limited scope given to them at the time of their foundation, and the absence of specific primary legislation outlining their powers and configuration. It is, therefore, appropriate to study new solutions in order to ensure the rightful position of the delicate decision-making process relating to the exercise of military force, in compliance with the mandatory constitutional principles and the inescapable demands of timeliness and effectiveness. 8. The strategic analysis and design of this White Paper within this context and from this perspective has the threefold purpose of: - indicating, in the medium-term, which military component can best address the challenges and opportunities that are relevant to the Ministry of Defence in terms of international security and defence; - identifying which model of governance and consequent organization can best gua- - 15 -