Mattarella: “EU is an open trade network that guarantees peace”

"Europe has always cultivated and maintains its vocation for peace." Furthermore, the European Union "is at the center of an open trade network that guarantees peace: this vocation for peace of the EU is shared to restore a model of peaceful coexistence to international life." This was stated by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella , at the end of the meeting with the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic .

Mattarella explains that Europe was born "to ensure a continent torn apart by centuries of wars a prospect of peace. A peace that has lasted for over 70 years" and is therefore "an offer of a model to the rest of the international community".

The Head of State continued: "The challenges have multiplied and Europe needs more than ever the convinced contribution of all its Member States to continue to strengthen and integrate, to be able to face the changed geopolitical context as a protagonist".

"Croatia and Italy share the intention to see the enlargement process completed without further delay, especially in the Western Balkans, which have been in the process of moving closer to the Union for over twenty years", says Mattarella.

"The aspirations of those countries that have chosen to join the EU for what it means in terms of values ​​of freedom, democracy, peace, must be supported to make Europe more solid and authentic. The peoples of the Balkan area - he adds - have the right - common to that of the other European countries - to live in a framework of peace, security and stability in which it is possible to recompose even the fault lines that have crossed the twentieth century".