MET

European leaders addressed the audience of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence for the second day of the 7th Edition of the State of The Union, the annual high-level conference of the European University Institute.

In his opening speech, Renaud Dehousse, President of the European University Institute, stressed that the academic institution was designed to be "a crucible, in which the cultures and traditions of all European members were to be confronted". However, The State of the Union aims to reach out to a wider audience because pluralism within academia 'is not enough,' he said. He stated: "Our role today is to ensure the widest possible debate about the future of Europe. Europe has become a source a fear, of frustration, of anger even. My hope is that between the views of European scholars, politicians and practitioners, ideas will come out to address the most pressing issues of our time."

Angelino Alfano, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that "we must take pride in saying CIVIS EUROPEUM SUM: I am a European citizen" and the European Union has to be our greatest pride. He praised the European University Institute for promoting critical thought.

Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, also recognised that the debates at The State of the Union come "at the right time". In face of three major challenges in Europe - youth employment, security threats and migration - and the rise of populism, he called on the EU institutions to respond to citizens' needs as a priority. "We have to understand why so many people vote for populist parties. Europe is too weak politically, we have always been delayed in facing the main challenges", he said. As a way to address these challenges, M. Tajani argued the EU should change the approach to budget, and consider having its own resources. He also called on a more political will to solve the problem of migration at its roots. Regarding Brexit negotiations, he stressed that the three EU institutions - Parliament, Council and Commission - are united.

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, said that Florence is an extraordinary city, "which allows us to make us think about key topics about the future of Europe and the world". In his speech he stressed the successes and ambitions of the EU. He stated: "European never discuss the successes obtained by the European Union, whereas elsewhere in the world people admire Europe." Although he said the EU, including the European Commission, has "done a little too much in certain aspects, and too little at other times", some policies such as the social dimension of Europe and a common defense should be further developed. With regards to Brexit negotiations, he advised not to "underestimate the decision made by the British people", as "it is no small event".

Rainer Bauböck, Professor of Social and Political Theory at the European University Institute, argued that the core of European citizenship needs to be filled with rights and duties beyond free movement, to avoid the "hollowing-out" that would "sound the death-knell" for Europe. European citizenship today is "so light it can be carried across borders but so lacking in substance that those who stay put cannot feel it," he said.