The Ventotene Project for the recovery of the Santo Stefano prison will be named after David Sassoli. The proposal, launched in the past few hours by the extraordinary Commissioner of the Government Silvia Costa in agreement with the Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini, was welcomed by Premier Mario Draghi who underlined how "the death of David Sassoli represents a great loss for the "Italy and for the whole of Europe. The tributes that have been paid to him reflect the depth of his commitment in favor of a more united and freer Europe, as in the intentions of the founding fathers".
For these reasons, the Premier "fully shares the proposal to name the Ventotene-Santo Stefano Project after him, for a School of High Thoughts in a place very dear to him. It will be - concludes Draghi - a way to draw an ideal line with the past," between two moments of rebirth of the European project, of which David Sassoli was a passionate protagonist ". The project for the recovery of the former prison of Santo Stefano, said Dario Franceschini, "is an ambitious initiative that the whole of Europe is looking at. The value of those places must be considered for their high symbolic significance, that's where it was born. the most revolutionary idea of our times: federal Europe.And it is right today to name this project after David who, with his political and civic commitment, was a profound interpreter of the spirit of the Ventotene Manifesto throughout his life ".
"David Sassoli - Commissioner Costa pointed out - was able to interpret with grace and determination that synthesis that you expressed very well in Parliament of ideality and mediation in the light of your solid Catholic democratic values and your strong demands for solidarity, social justice, civic participation and dialogue. I am sure that Sassoli's testimony and example will also remain in the hearts of many young people who are sending us moving messages and who in recent years have felt him close and attentive to their requests. I consider it significant and relevant therefore that the Government entitles him the Ventotene-Santo Stefano Project for a 'School of High Thoughts' that welcomes all the best training experiences on human rights, the dignity of the person, justice, solidarity,the role of culture and sustainability in building freedom, democracy and solidarity in Europe and the Mediterranean ".
Silvia Costa recalled in particular the words that David Sassoli addressed from Brussels on 17 September 2020 during the initiative she promoted in Ventotene with the local institutions and administrations that signed the Project: "The prison of Santo Stefano and the island of Ventotene constitute the cornerstones of our history, points of reference. the passage of many protagonists of the life of the Italian Republic: Sandro Pertini, Umberto Terracini, Rocco Pugliese, courageous men considered uncomfortable, political dissidents, people who have made resistance to fascism one of their battles, they have been forced to spend part of their lives in this prison, many even their last hours.The value of the Santo Stefano prison must therefore be considered for its high symbolic significance. Cultural heritage is an important part of our common identity. Your project goes precisely in this direction, has our support and contributes to strengthening that sense of European citizenship which laid its foundations precisely on the rocks of Ventotene. It is there that we had men and women who imagined a different future for us. We must not forget that this was a land of inspiration for all who we consider our founding fathers and their words are now, more than ever, relevant. "has our support and helps to strengthen that sense of European citizenship which laid its foundations right on the rocks of Ventotene. It is there that we had men and women who imagined a different future for us. We must not forget that this was a land of inspiration for all who we consider our founding fathers and their words are now, more than ever, relevant. "has our support and helps to strengthen that sense of European citizenship which laid its foundations right on the rocks of Ventotene. It is there that we had men and women who imagined a different future for us. We must not forget that this was a land of inspiration for all who we consider our founding fathers and their words are now, more than ever, relevant. "