History, with its tensions and the unimaginable winds of war, asks us to assume responsibility that until a few years ago was unpredictable
: it must be able to equip itself with new institutions and the ability to respond to the aggressions that already threaten its borders today . Sergio Mattarella appears increasingly worried about the multiplying outbreaks of war - all close to the old continent - and once again he is working to encourage Europe to wake up.
"The historical moment we are going through requires - said the President of the Republic - that the European institutions assume responsibilities and equip themselves with the necessary tools to allow the Union to continue to represent a reality of stability and progress, capable of positively influencing the context international and to effectively oppose every autocratic and illiberal temptation that was present on the continent and policies of aggression against other States".
The head of state spoke about it in Bulgaria, one of the states on the eastern border of the Union that is most worried about Russian threats
. For this reason, in the toast at the dinner hosted by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Mattarella offers a strong example by comparing the EU to the Atlantic Alliance: "today NATO is confirming the foresight of a security architecture imagined in a distant era, which proves fully relevant. The European Union must be able to demonstrate similar political will". In his political talks, the president also spoke about migratory flows which are also of great concern to Bulgaria: "The new European agreement on asylum and immigration goes beyond Dublin and opens the door to greater collaboration between European countries to tackle a growing phenomenon which can be governed with order and not in a disorganized manner as happens today".
Sergio Mattarella then opened up to the new European Pact on migrants
which effectively surpasses the Dublin agreement - the latest version was signed way back in 2013 - but which had sparked so much controversy in Brussels with various parties which, despite for reasons sometimes opposed, they voted against the text. But the highlight of the talks with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev was Europe and continental security.
And today the head of state reiterated how important it is for the European Union to move forward in the integration process but also went into detail by talking about an emerging theme that former Prime Minister
Draghi
is pursuing for the EU Commission ,
competitiveness
. "The choices that the EU will have to make to be more cohesive - explained the Head of State - are important choices to be increasingly protagonist. In the next EU summit we will talk about competitiveness, an element that will allow greater opportunities for the future of our young people ".
Mattarella never mentioned Mario Draghi's name, but the similarities are clear. Just yesterday the former prime minister had underlined the urgency of greater and rapid integration with these words: "we do not have the luxury of being able to postpone decisions, to ensure coherence between the different instruments to relaunch the competitiveness of the EU we need a new strategic instrument to coordinate economic policies".
In his talks in Bulgaria the president was obviously able to discuss the main crisis dossiers, finding full agreement in the Bulgarian leadership. What emerged was a very concerned analysis of the Middle Eastern crisis, so much so that Mattarella did not hide the fact that "the risk of the conflict spreading is dramatically present". For this reason, the two presidents wanted to remind us that the only long-term solution remains that of "two peoples, two states". Finally, economic collaboration with Sofia is growing (last year trade was 7 billion) and military cooperation is also strengthening. "We have decided to increase the security of the eastern flank of NATO and we have common projects in the arms industry", confirmed the Bulgarian president Rumen Radev who also praised the great collaboration with Italy within NATO to defend the eastern borders of Europe.