The need to continue

On the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome , MARIA ROMANA DE GASPERI draws “an undoubtedly positive balance sheet” but one that “must be continued”. In an interview with SIR, the daughter of Alcide De Gasperi, protagonist of Italy’s political reconstruction after the Second World War and considered, together with Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer, one of the “fathers of Europe”, says: “To me, who lived in a period when freedom was drastically curtailed, even the goals reached today seem like a miracle. Nonetheless, Europe can and must continue to grow in dialogue, in unity and in cooperation among peoples”. Alcide De Gasperi (1881-1954), who sadly did not live to see the signing of the Treaties of Rome, will be remembered at the Congress that COMECE is promoting in the Italian capital at the present time to celebrate the anniversary of the event. On 24 March, in the presence of his daughter, a ceremony of commemoration of the great Italian statesman will be held at his tomb in the basilica of San Lorenzo in Rome. What was it that brought the “founding fathers” together? “Following the Second World War Schuman, Adenauer and my father decided to pursue a policy of rapprochement between the peoples of the continent by pooling the common ideals of peace, freedom, democracy and solidarity interpreted in the light of Christian values. Theirs was a serious Christianity, profoundly experienced ever since boyhood. These three men were also similar as pioneers, with all the advantages and difficulties that this condition entailed. As far as my father was concerned, his youthful interlude as member of parliament in Vienna was also important [De Gasperi, born in the province of Trento, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was elected to the Parliament in Vienna in 1911]; this was an experience that, in the daily encounter with the problems of other countries, gave a significant impulse to the pan-European spirit that was already latent in him”. Europe: did it not start out on the wrong foot? “No. The process of unification was soon marked by a false step, that of the failure to realise the European Defence Community, which might have seemed a contradiction for men who spoke of reconciliation and peace, but in the intentions of the founding fathers ought to have formed the basis on which to found the first supranational political authority for the pursuit of the continent’s political unity, the motor, in turn, of economic cooperation and cooperation in other fields. The error of the politicians at that time was that of having failed to understand this, but fortunately, after this impasse, the process of European integration gained in strength”. “A European come from the future” was the slogan of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of De Gasperi’s death in 2004… “The slogan summed up his ability to interpret his own time, and at the same time project its ideas and realizations into the future. This was an innate quality, but also the result of profound preparation in politics, ever since his youth. My father always embraced civil commitment with humanity and responsibility, constantly illuminated and sustained by his faith. Every morning, even at times of greater public service [De Gasperi was Italian Premier from 1946 to 1953 and President of the parliamentary assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1954], he read some lines of the “Imitation of Christ” or of the Bible. From this spiritual dimension derived his acute sense of justice, freedom and dignity of the human person, and also his altruistic conception of political service. Spirituality and political service were the two dimensions that co-existed in his soul, and that he tried to bring into the European project”. What have De Gasperi’s life and work to say to the young today? “In my meetings with children in schools I encounter a deep interest in the life of my father: young people have a need to hear that it’s possible to engage in politics in an honest way and to work together with those of different or even opposite persuasions, engaging with them sincerely, while respecting their principles and identity. This is an important message also for European integration, where our leaders need to proceed together, while respecting each other’s diversities. My father always maintained the importance of educating the young for their future: a future that even at the time promised to be European“. An anniversary is also a time of assessment… “Of the achievements of these last fifty years, apart from peace, freedom and development, what particularly strikes me is the meeting between cultures and the dialogue between religions that this process has undoubtedly fostered, in particular following the reunification of Eastern and Western Europe, and that constitutes an important terrain on which it is possible to work for a better future. However, we cannot remain satisfied with the European horizon, turning a blind eye to globalization, the poverty of so many parts of the world, conflicts and terrorism. Here, unfortunately, the weakness of Europe, linked to its lack of cohesion, is manifest. If it is to have an impact on the international scene, the EU needs a shared external policy. I also think we cannot postpone any longer the question of the Constitutional Treaty or that of bringing the European institutions closer to citizens”.