ROMA (ITALPRESS) – “The future of our European project is a topic of extreme relevance, as shows the reality of the international conjunction, marked by profound transformations of geopolitical balances, by the emergence of conflicts and tensions at the borders of Europe. The European Union is faced with extraordinary challenges that affect its security, its prosperity, its ability to act authoritatively on the international scene, with significant consequences on the lives of our citizens. No country on the continent can think of a future separated from that of others: it would be an escape from reality and, more than an illusion, an act of self-lesion. The most recent data on the Eurobarometer shows that about 90% of our citizens call for greater unity between Member States. The interest of today’s generation and future ones requires that we continue with determination with the necessary internal reforms.” Thus the president of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, speaking at the summit Arraiolos in Slovenia.
“In these twelve years I have seen the growth of awareness that the Union needs more slender and faster decisionmaking. There are also two additional elements: the rapidity with which, in the world, arise – and follow – new problems of decisive importance, which demand prompt responses. Without the speed of decisions, these problems in international life would be decided by other subjects and in Europe we would have passive effects. It adds the necessary acceleration of the enlargement process, from Western Balkan countries to Ukraine and Moldova: A Union of more than thirty members could not live with the current methods of decision,” he said.
“There is no need for many words about the need for common defence, proceeding with determination and speed to the interoperability of our military instruments, both because it is an indispensable condition for common defence and to strengthen NATO on the European side, to restore balance with Russia’s posture; balance which, in history, has always been the guarantee of peace, boasting temptations of aggression. It is necessary to complete the Union’s financial system: in comparison, which we are always collaborative, with other strong economies we cannot remain long with an incomplete complex building. It will be of great difficulty to find the means to approach you but it is indispensable”, the Head of State reiterated.
“The need to strengthen European competitiveness is widely shared among the steps to be taken. Another decisive element is the negotiation of the multiannual financial framework of the Union, because the choices we will make will not only define the distribution of European resources, but also the level of ambition with which Europe intends to address the changes in place. I hope that it is appropriately ambitious: increasing responsibility must correspond to appropriate tools and resources, to support common priorities, strengthen cohesion and translate political objectives into concrete capacity for action, The Eurobarometer also tells us that 75% of Europeans consider the Union a factor of stability in a global crisis context,” he added.
“It seems that our fellow citizens are aware of what we are doing in the Union to present to the world and concretely create a model of peace and co-operation. The network of free trade agreements that the Union has achieved and is further developing with other major areas of the world – from Canada to Mercosur, from Japan to India, to Australia and other areas – produces shared interests and common objectives, guarantee of peace. An alternative model to that of the clashes, commercial contrasts or even warlikes,” concluded the head of the state.
– Photo Quirinale –
(ITALPRESS).
