Seeking new roads

The role and the commitment for Europe of Alcide De Gasperi was recalled by the statesman’s daughter Paula during a meeting attended by a large number of youth in the town of Subiaco (Italy), that cherishes the memory of Saint Benedict. In view of the upcoming elections for the Parliament in Strasbourg, follows the account of her address.Just like the other fathers of Europe, De Gasperi knew that he would have to overcome a number of difficulties, habits, egotisms, interests and fears. But what was important was to sew a seed and ensure its growth. And this seed represented political unity. For this, heads of state agreements ensuing the establishment of the Coal and Steel Community and the European Defence Community project, weren’t enough. The endorsement of the respective national parliaments was needed, which entailed the involvement of the public opinion. Thus, De Gasperi’s commitment wasn’t confined to participating in high-level reunions. In fact, his passionate contribution, as recorded in Adenauer’s memoirs, was crucial to the establishment and development of the ECSC and of the EDC, until these became the bases of a political community, that he urged to be rapidly enacted, thus preventing longsome negotiations on particularities. He sought to attend all the meetings held by the Unions and by Federalist movements, encouraging them to take action. He once said: “I don’t know how much of this European association, federation or union of States that is gradually taking shape will be realized by our generation. However, it is a fact that it is proceeding in this direction”.One of the happiest moments of the European journey undertaken by my father was in Aquisgrana, when the “Charlemagne Award”, that promoted the diffusion of European sentiments, presented him with a medal bearing the image of the founder of the Holy Roman Empire that heralded European unity. In the pictures taken on that occasion he is proud and beaming. In fact, upon his return to Rome he said: “This award only … I wished be placed on my coffin upon my death”. And it was done. But he didn’t speak of that period with nostalgia. Rather, he encouraged the promotion of a European frame of mind, informing the new generations about the difficulties and the progress of this journey, since they were to become the keepers of the common heritage that was to be passed down. Some more quotations: “the Union is the result of mutual consensus, this mutual consensus is by its very nature free and slow-moving. As Italian and Christian faithful I believe that the best part of Europe is already united, it is already a whole. There is a European history and there is a European civilization. When history scholar Toynbee declared that he had been in pilgrimage to the Sacred Cave (Subiaco) to venerate the place that triggered the initial thrust of our civilization, he stated a truth that the contemporary world is barely aware of. We have been recently accused of wanting to establish a kind of identity linking Europe and Christianity … enable me to recall that Christianity belongs to all men. After all, how could Europe be conceived without Christianity? How would it be possible if Christian fraternal, social and unitary teaching were ignored?” “I am well aware of the fact that free thought is also European, but who could ever dream of proscribing it, in the free Europe we wish to erect. Similar principles cannot be realized without peace”. And he concluded: “In order to unite Europe, there is more to destroy than to erect: a world marked by prejudice, pusillanimity, and of rancour ought to be discarded. How much did it take to unite Italy when every city had learned to detest its neighbouring city? The same work must be done for Europe. We speak, write, and unremittingly persevere the objective of keeping Europe on our daily agenda”. As you all know, De Gasperi’s political dream, which he devoted himself to until the very last moments of his life, was not accomplished. We achieved an economic unity that is often considered a burden by the single Countries and by the single areas of production. Nonetheless I hope, as my father did, that the next generations, who are not touched by unpleasant remnants of hatred, and who have become accustomed to the free circulation of people, goods and ideas, may start anew with renewed thrust, and find new roads leading to European unity.