We, the Foreign Ministers and Representatives of the 27 EU Member States, gathered today in Taormina, in the presence of the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, and the Foreign Ministers and Representatives of the candidates and potential candidates for accession to the European Union, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Messina Conference and to reaffirm our firm commitment to European integration and the reunification of the whole continent.
We are proud of our achievements along the ambitious European path, which has allowed us to build a unique Union, endowed with common institutions and shared values enshrined in the Treaties, a community of peace, freedom, democracy and growth, founded on respect for international law, human rights and the rule of law, a great economic power with unparalleled levels of social protection and welfare.
Today, as back then, we are facing existential challenges both globally and within the Union: conflicts, that have resurfaced even in our continent with Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine and other challenges as new hybrid threats, terrorism, climate change, malign interference into our domestic affairs and democratic processes, irregular migration, protectionism and social and economic inequalities in our societies. However, we are convinced that we can overcome these challenges, acting together in the spirit of solidarity and implementing the right policies in order to help our citizens fully grasp new opportunities offered by the ongoing technological and digitalization revolution to ensure their safety and well-being. We are determined to achieve these goals for all Europeans and also remain committed to maintaining a dialogue-based approach towards third countries.
Reaffirming our unity and promoting the further consolidation and enlargement of our Union, are the cornerstones to defend our common European interests and values, and to foster the reunification of our continent. A change of pace in terms of competitiveness and industrial growth is also needed, now more than ever, to fully seize the levers of the Single Market. Economic progress needs to be underpinned by innovation, strong industrial policies and a sustainable and affordable energy transition. A key priority responding to developments on the international stage is strengthening European defence and security, with adequate financing, enhanced capabilities, and a ramped-up defence industry, in complementarity with NATO, in respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States. At the same time, we reiterate our continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders, and our support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law.
These should be the foundations of our near future on which we must act together, always proceeding in the same direction.
United in the memory of the farsightedness that guided the Foreign Ministers of the 6 founding members during the Messina Conference back in June 1955, we commit ourselves to striving to consolidate a united secure, prosperous, sustainable, social and more sovereign Europe on the world stage, including through enlargement.
These are commitments that will require renewed impetus towards the important internal reform process, aimed at fulfilling the Union’s long-term ambitions and addressing key questions related to its priorities and policies. This internal reform process should be held separately from, but in parallel with the enlargement process, also in order to be ready to effectively complete a merit-based enlargement process, as a geopolitical priority and a strategic investment in peace, security and prosperity for the entire continent.
We will pursue these goals, firm in the conviction that the future of Europe is in our hands and that the European Union is the best instrument to achieve our objectives, in a spirit of solidarity, mutual trust and open and transparent cooperation, both between the Member States and with the EU institutions, in full respect of the principle of subsidiarity.
A unified, democratic, sovereign and prosperous Europe remains our common future, today as yesterday.
