His political commitment began in 1963, when he joined the Italian Communist Youth Federation (FGCI), of which from 1975 to 1980 he was National Secretary. The first card of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) dates back to 1968. He is among the young leaders of the "turning point" who, in 1989 transformed the PCI into the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS). On the first of July 1994 he was elected National Secretary of the PDS. He entered for the first time in the Chamber of Deputies in 1987. From October 1998 to April 2000, he held the position of President of the Council of Ministers. In June 2004 he was elected to the European Parliament where he held the position of President of the Permanent Delegation for relations between the European Union and Mercosur. On 17 May 2006 he was appointed Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Prodi Government. Is a professional journalist, he has collaborated with "Città futura", "Rinascita" and "l'Unità" of which he was director from 1988 to 1990. He is currently President of the Italianieuropei Foundation and works as a consultant with his company DL&M Advisor Srl