Future of the EU: Gentiloni in Strasburg, “Social Europe in the Declaration of Rome”. No nationalism

(Strasburg) “We don’t unite States, we put people together”: Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni chose a sentence by Jean Monnet to point out the path for re-launching the EU during the 60^th anniversary of institutional treaties to be celebrated in Rome next 25 March. Speaking to MEPs and other representatives of EU institutions (Council, Commission) in Strasburg, Gentiloni summarised the essential points of the Declaration of Rome which is going to be drawn up, and which will be – he says – “the outcome of compromise” among “different positions”. Five themes were emphasised: “The EU is supposed to meet the investment and work demand”; “it is necessary to share commitment for border safety and management of migrant flows”; “it is necessary to strengthen our role in the world, making concrete steps, including defence policy”; “we cannot yield to nationalism”; “we should focus on social Europe, because if we leave the weakest behind the people will not trust the European Union”.