To counter-act the crisis, ''we need to support families and companies.'' This was the message from the president of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, as he greeted the industrial groups at the beginning of a Confindustria meeting. The head of state added in particular that ''Italian companies are today facing a very serious task'', which is ''to overcome the crisis.'' ''We need to face up to and overcome the effects of an international financial and economic crisis which is having serious effects on the levels of production and employment in Italy too and is testing the country's social cohesion. The institution's first role, with the agreement of all social groups,'' the Head of State went on, ''is to support those companies and families which are most hit by the counter-effects of the crisis, in line with the chance to begin a new phase of development which will see the opening of markets to competition, and the refusal of all protectionist policies and the redefinition of rules which correspond to common interest. Europe and her institutions must show that they can play a vital role in contributing to a new system of global governance. Our country has great resources and potentials that are not sufficiently valued,'' he added, ''in particular in the southern regions. Public intervention must aim to stimulate the full deployment, respecting the limits that the heavy state debt proposes. The culture of business which Confindustria heads will have to show it is careful in its evaluation of human capital, which Italy is richly endowed with, and it must protect work and security.''