Raffaele Costa

Raffaele Costa (born 8 September 1936) is an Italian politician. He was the president of the Province of Cuneo from June 2004 to June 2009. He was previously a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies representing the Italian Liberal Party and later Forza Italia between 1976 and 2003, and was also a member of the European Parliament of the European People's Party until June 2004.

His son, Enrico Costa, is also a politician and was Italian Minister of Regional Affairs and Autonomies in the Renzi Cabinet and the Gentiloni Cabinet.

Early life and education
Costa was born in Mondovì. He holds a degree in Law and Political Science.

Parliamentary career
He was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 1976, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2001.

As Minister
He was Minister without Portfolio for the co-ordination of community political and regional affairs (1992), Minister of Health (1993), Minister of Transport and Minister of the Merchant Marine in the Ciampi government.

As Under-Secretary of State
Costa was parliamentary under-secretary of state in the:
 * Ministry of Justice
 * Ministry of Foreign Affairs (8th Legislature)
 * Ministry of the Interior (Craxi Government)
 * Ministry of Public Works (9th Legislature)

In the European Parliament

 * Member of the European Parliament's former Committee on the Atmosphere
 * Member of European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control
 * Member of European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
 * Member of European Parliament's Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Other appointments

 * Chairman of the Defence Committee of the Chamber of Deputies
 * Vice-Chairman of the Agriculture and Forestry Committee of the Chamber of Deputies (1976–1979)
 * General Secretary of the Italian Liberal Party (1993–1994)
 * Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Federalist parliamentary group (1995–1996)
 * Administrator of Forza Italia's Office for Citizens' Rights
 * President of the Province of Cuneo (2004–2009)

Author
Costa has written four books:
 * The Doctor is Outside the Room
 * My First Republic
 * Italy, Land of Waste
 * Italy, Land of Privilege

Publisher
He founded and published the periodical Il Duemila in 1971.