Mattarella: “Preserve the ideal of a strong, just, peaceful Europe. Without courage, rights are at risk”

"On May 9, 1950, the historic declaration was released in which the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the creation of a community of States for the joint production of coal and steel, a tool to imagine a Europe united first on an economic level and in the future on a political level, so as to overcome the tragic experience of the war. An ambitious path of integration was then undertaken that has experienced moments of difficulty but has never stopped", wrote the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella , in a message released to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration on the occasion of Europe Day.

"In June 1955, the Messina Conference set the course for the signing of the Treaties of Rome. That season of renewed commitment marked a decisive turning point in the unification process, consolidating the foundations of a Europe capable of looking to the future with ambition and responsibility. Today - continues the Head of State on the occasion of the anniversary - we celebrate Europe Day and with it the enormous progress of that common path that has brought peace, stability and prosperity to the continent".

For Mattarella "in the face of the pressing international developments and the strategic and geopolitical threats to which the international community is increasingly exposed, today, with renewed vigor and determination, the need to not retreat from the difficulties is imperative. Only through creative efforts proportionate to the dangers that loom, will we be able to preserve the ideal of a strong, just and peaceful Europe, a bastion of hope for future generations. It is a challenge of immeasurable proportions: for its originality compared to the usual forms of cooperation between nation states; for the huge capital of mutual trust required of those who choose to participate; for the scope of the institutional innovations necessary for its implementation; and for the determination required of the ruling classes in overcoming the inevitable obstacles that arise from such complexity".

The statement continues: "If we are unable to face the challenges that threaten our future with courage, determination and foresight, we risk losing that invaluable heritage of rights and values ​​that constitute the cornerstone of our integration project. Shared prosperity, substantial equality, inviolable freedom, lasting peace and solid democracy, respecting the environment that welcomes us, are not only ideals to be safeguarded, but concrete commitments to be renewed with determination. It is in our ability to face change, with unity and responsibility, that the destiny of Italy and Europe and the well-being of future generations lies", concludes Mattarella.