Well, I think I should start out by apologizing to you for two reasons: first of all, by talking now, I am postponing lunch. Sorry. But mostly because I am forcing you to listen to my terrible English rather than the melodious strains of my excellent Italian. Even more so because my Italian is a less aggressive language than the one recently used in the European Parliament.
I would like to thank Peter Mandelson and the Policy Network for the chance to present the Fondazione Italianieuropei – which I have the honour to chair – to this audience.
Why Italianieuropei? It is very simple: we feel we are Italian and we feel we are European. We are citizens of our own country and of Europe.
Several years ago we chose to focus the construction of a new think tank on the idea of convergence between national interest and the endeavour of building Europe.
Our choice was based on the conviction that Europe is not simply an empty institutional body, a far-off bureaucracy. No, Europe means common values. And over the past decades, a system has arisen around these values in harmony with liberty and solidarity. It stands as the world’s most advanced form of balance between liberty and solidarity.
Europeans can be proud. Especially progressives. If it is true that even a conservative can be pro-Europe, it is equally true that no one can call himself a reformist without being pro-Europe.
Why did a group of centre-left politicians created a think tank? Because politics need new ideas. We need a closer relationship with culture and research.
Today, in fact, while Italy has a Centre-Right government, there is even more for us to do. Every day Italy risks becoming less European – as many of our friends in Europe know.
Even though it is probable – given the latest electoral results, which led to strong gains by the Centre-Left – that our fellow citizens will soon call us back into service. At least to avoid further damages to the industry of Italian tourism. Anyway I would like to say to our friends that Italy remains a wonderful and charming place, despite the many gaffes of the centre-right government. So, please, keep on spending your vacations in Italy.
I mentioned the Nineties earlier. As you know, Italy underwent a very difficult period during those years. We had to do a very tough job. Romano Prodi, Giuliano Amato, myself and the other people who were in government during those years. But we kept our promises. In home politics, we stick ourselves to the hard criteria of severe budget policy, in order to save our country. Internationally, we took our responsibilities. In the Balkans and during the Kosovo war. It was tough and sometimes unpopular. We paid a price for this. But at the end Italy became stronger and more respected.
Now that I see how Italy is governed by the centre-right – and I make a comparison – I believe we can be proud of what we did.
That’s why I believe we will come back to government. But in order to do this, we need a more innovative project. We have to learn from the experience of the New Labour. We need to build a new balance between modernization and social rights.
But – if I may give a suggestion to my British friends – I believe it is impossible to reach our common goals without a stronger political Europe.
We need Europe in order to promote development. We need Europe to promote social justice. We need Europe to have a better security for our communities.
But it’s not only the Europeans who need Europe. The world needs more Europe. The world needs the European Union as a global player, a player who takes its responsibilities. Not against but together with the United States, with its own profile and its own skills. Multilateralism is not anti-americanism. On the contrary, unilateralism can spread anti-american moods all over the world.
We need a global multilateral governance. Also because this is one of the basic differences between us and the right. We – the progressive left – believe in the supremacy of politics. We believe in strong institutions. Because when politics is weak, people are weak. If institutions are weak, we cannot tackle the new threats that our societies are facing.
Our current duty is clear: to build a political culture that will not fall out of step with the global economy, with information communications, with cultural processes. All these processes are advancing on a global scale – independently of politics. And the imbalance between politics and globalization gives rise to dramatic contradictions. What it needs is for politics to assume more responsibility.
Our common job, as progressive centre-left, has began a decade ago. At that time we stood for innovating the left. It was right to identify a new, progressive centre-left. It was right to isolate the old left, the left committed to State centralism and big bureaucracies. That effort was the source for a season of governments.
Now we have to face a new and aggressive right. Bill Clinton made a very clear point this Friday. He remembered that this right says it wants the change. This right is not pragmatic, but idealistic instead. This right is not elitist, but populist. How can we defeat it? This is our new task. We will not win by entrenching ourselves in a defensive position. We need a vision of the future. We need our ideals. Pragmatism is not enough.
Ten years ago we focused the challenge to make our societies more competitive. And that was right. But globalization is not only a challenge for being more competitive. It’s also a challenge to reduce inequalities. This means, for example, a Europe which does not refuse to opens its borders to the developing countries. This means a Europe which is able to reform its agricultural policy.
Our common job used to be based mainly in Europe and the US. I am very glad to see here so many friends from countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. This is the proof that our work is not a cultural exercise. It is an effort to tackle real needs.
That’s why our common work, on global governance issues, is so important. Here we are working to prepare a new season of centre-left government. We have to start from the extraordinary results of the centre-left governments which are still in office. And we have to look at the new hopes which come from our new victories, like in Brazil with President Lula.
We know that the right does not have the answers to the needs of our time. This makes us confident. We know that a new season of government is possible. A new season to achieve relevant changes, not only inside our countries but also on a global scale.
So good luck to all of us. And enjoy your meal.
