“The moment of truth”” “

Indistinct references to the historical successes of integration are not enough to save Europe from rampant populist and nationalist movements; nor is it enough to evoke the “fathers” of the common home. Today the picture has changed: globalization has transformed economic, cultural and political scenarios. That’s why we need a “breakthrough” that would revive the Community project, which, moreover, cannot be ignored: “nothing can make us go back”. The President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, was greeted as a fervent pro-European by the EU Parliament, which welcomed him on February 4 in Strasbourg, with a long applause. His speech was markedly pro-European, but it did not fail to mention the “errors” in the construction of the euro, noting the progressive detachment of citizens from the common institutions. Hence the need for far-reaching reforms meant to restore “more unity, more democracy, more effectiveness” to the EU. No to demagogic shortcuts. The Italian President in the first part of his speech mentioned a set of economic issues and the burden of the crisis on workers, families and citizens in Europe, stressing the need to overcome the period of austerity “necessary for balancing” national accounts, which, however, has resulted in unemployment and stagnation. Instead, whilst refraining from dangerous “demagogic” shortcuts, bold political decisions, reforms and investments are critical to growth and job-creation, and to “restore confidence to the younger generations”. The crisis, for Napolitano, has brought about “strong disillusionment and mistrust of the EU institutions”, which did not prevent errors and delays in the response to the crisis. But the Italian politician, who in the past served twice as MEP, equally stressed “persistent self-interest”, “national pettiness” along with “anachronistic attitudes” of the governments of many member countries, called to seek answers to common problems instead of retreating within their national borders. The “fathers of Europe” had, according to Napolitano, a long-term, “global” vision, while “contemporary politics is carried out at national level”. Hence Napolitano called for a renewal of politics and institutions and for the strengthening of participatory democracy. Beyond the crisis in consensus. Regarding the elections for the renewal of the European Parliament, Giorgio Napolitano spoke of a “moment of truth”, which requires a “breakthrough in Europe”, for the revival of growth accompanied by reforms of the labour market, education, investment in research. The president then branded as “simplistic” and unfounded the claims of those who propose to dismantle the euro (a yet “incomplete” achievement). Napolitano emphasized the duty to undertake a change of course to meet the real needs and expectations of citizens. “The crisis in popular support to the EU and to the integration process – the Italian president pointed out – carries the burden of economic and social malaise, that the Union has not been able to avoid. But it also carries the burden of a serious political void, in terms of information and the involvement of citizens in the decision-making process” of EU28. “The change to be proposed to the electorate”, said Napolitano, referring to the upcoming May elections, “must go beyond economic and social policies, and so must the challenge against those very forces which deny and oppose the European integration project, to the benefit of its continuity and its necessary and possible renewal”. A “new era of sustainable economic growth” is “needed to restore confidence. But it is not enough to ensure the democratic legitimacy of the integration process unless it is accompanied by institutional and political developments”. “Prompting change”. “I think that all those who believe in the cause of a united Europe”, Napolitano added, “can prepare for the upcoming elections with confidence, as bearers of change, especially if the original features of our project will be restored, along with our overall experience and richness, after having witnessed for so many years a prevailing economistic version of it, marked by overtly technical connotations”. The vision of what has been built in approximately half a century, which isn’t only a common market and an economic cooperation area, but also a community of values, and with it a community of complex and articulated legal framework built in the name of freedom and democracy, has diminished”, according to President Napolitano, “and it should be revived with strength”. The “leaven” of this project “was the shared sentiment of a rich common culture”, and thus “the deeply-rooted foundations of the European project have interconnected and interpenetrated our societies, our institutions, including social forces, citizens and young people of our countries, to such an extent that nothing can make us go back”. Populism and nationalism are, according to Napolitano, “vacuous propaganda” which “lack credibility”. On the other hand, policymakers lack “farsightedness”, i.e. a long-term planning capacity. Napolitano’s remedy is ambitious but clear: “The new, exciting mission of a united Europe is to bring to life, in the flow of a globalization that could submerge us as European nations, our historical identity, our unique cultural heritage, our example and our model of supranational integration, of rule of the law, a community of social market economy”.