WTI Magazine #31    2014 May, 22
Author : Francesca Papasergi      Translation by:

Even if they actually invaded tv, newspapers, radio and social networks, Italian politicians didn't explain much about their programs for Europe. In spite of their European partners' plans, the debate didn't reveal anything interesting to voters.

The majority of Italians is not familiar with EU's premises and can't count on an adequate education about the EU institutions, powers and missions. Accordingly, everybody seems to concentrate on national issues, while Europe keeps its "elsewhere" status. "Here, now" wins over "There, tomorrow".

The reason is easy to understand. Italians, Germans, French, Spanish, not to mention Britons and so on and so forth, usually don't think of themselves as Europeans. The continental identity inspired by the Ventotene Manifesto never came to light besides the Erasmus Program and the effects of Shengen Treaty. The lack of common policies in crucial fields like economy, foreign affairs, taxes, welfare and military interventions don't help European citizens to feel as such.

These elections are the Old World version of mid-term vote and, in these difficult times, the euro is the scapegoat that many people exploit to justify their extreme purposes. There is only one certainty: the fiscal compact must be reformed as soon as possible to help weaker states against crisis.

Structural and cultural differences need a variety of approaches, innovations and solid projects. There can't be a unique set of instruments: German solutions can't be applied to every case. On the contrary, they brought many countries to their knees because of the iper deflation, and Mrs. Merkel's rigidity about everything turned Germany into the public enemy of every populist movement in Europe, especially in Italy. The gigantic public debt and the indefatigable, ridiculous bureaucracy add their daily contribution to the Italian decline.

Although the Manifesto's authors were Italian, their fellow countrymen apparently don't care about their wise intentions. The European Union could be Italy's salvation or its curse: Altiero Spinelli and his friends were right, and time showed that treaties alone don't create a community. Nowadays, pacta sunt servanda. Dear politicians, find a way to make them work.