In 1916 the "Associazione Scouts Cattolici Italiani" (ASCI) was founded, while in 1943 its female counterpart, the "Associazione Guide Italiane" (AGI), was launched. The two Catholic associations were merged in 1974 in order to form the "Associazione Guide e Scouts Cattolici Italiani" (AGESCI). Some ASCI and AGI leaders, who had disagreed with the merger (and, above all, opposed the principle of coeducation) and had refused to join AGESCI, formed the "Associazione Italiana Guide e Scouts d'Europa Cattolici" (AIGSEC or "Scouts d'Europa"), along with disgruntled members of the early AGESCI, in 1976.