It is necessary to rekindle the “pro-Europe passion”, without giving in to “pessimism”, since “there is no alternative” to the EU. Minister Bonino spoke at the foreign ministry in Rome during the dedication of a hall to Ambassador Silvio Fagiolo, one of the leaders in the formation of the European Community and who recently passed away.
Italian EU Presidency will bring the attention back to European policy, says Bonino
“We have to jump-start this stalled engine”, Bonino asserted, pointing out that our continent was, in any case, in the avant-garde in the world “in culture, social welfare, literacy and technological potential”. So “enough of feeling sorry for ourselves”, she began, speaking mainly to the young diplomats present in the newly dedicated hall, encouraging them to make Ambassador Fagiolo’s passions their own. “One year from now we will take over the EU Presidency (July 1 2014), which will “serve to bring the attention back to European policy”, the minister assured.
Silvio Fagiolo active as few others have been in the drafting of treaties, says Valensise
The Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General Michele Valensise underscored that “at such an uncertain stage for Europe we need the contribution of ideas like those of Ambassador Fagiolo, who was active as few others have ever been in the drafting of treaties, from Maastricht to Lisbon”.
Also present at the dedication were Deputy Minister Marta Dassù, DIS Director Giampiero Massolo and former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, for whose Private Staff Fagiolo had been chief.
