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E.U. Leaders Sign Rome Declaration and Proclaim a ‘Common Future’ (Minus Britain) E.U. Leaders Sign Rome Declaration and Proclaim a ‘Common Future’ (Minus Britain)
(about 2 hours later)
ROME — Proclaiming “Europe is our common future,” 27 leaders of the European Union on Saturday signed a statement in Rome declaring their commitment to integrating the Continent even as a series of crises has badly weakened the efforts and Britain prepares to leave the bloc. ROME — Proclaiming “Europe is our common future,” 27 leaders of the European Union signed a statement on Saturday in Rome declaring their commitment to integrating the Continent even as a series of crises has badly weakened the efforts and Britain prepares to leave the bloc.
The statement, known as the Rome Declaration and signed on the anniversary of the day the bloc’s foundations were laid 60 years ago, underscored the aspirations of a “unique union with common institutions and strong values, a community of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”The statement, known as the Rome Declaration and signed on the anniversary of the day the bloc’s foundations were laid 60 years ago, underscored the aspirations of a “unique union with common institutions and strong values, a community of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”
In a nod to reality, however, the leaders acknowledged that they were “facing unprecedented challenges, both global and domestic” including “regional conflicts, terrorism, growing migratory pressures, protectionism and social and economic inequalities.” In a nod to reality, however, the leaders acknowledged that they were “facing unprecedented challenges, both global and domestic,” including “regional conflicts, terrorism, growing migratory pressures, protectionism and social and economic inequalities.”
The ceremony took place in a hall here in Rome that was richly decorated in frescoes depicting scenes from the ancient world. It is the same room where the Treaty of Rome was signed on March 25, 1957, by six countries. That event helped lay the groundwork for today’s union. The ceremony took place in a hall in Rome that was richly decorated in frescoes depicting scenes from the ancient world. It is the same room where the Treaty of Rome was signed on March 25, 1957, by six countries. That event helped lay the groundwork for today’s union.
Moments after signing, Christian Kern, the Austrian chancellor, raised his fists in triumph. Each leader received a sustained round of applause as he or she signed the declaration. Some gathered after the ceremony to look over the declaration, and others took photos with their cellphones to mark the milestone for the European project. Moments after signing, Christian Kern, the Austrian chancellor, raised his fists in triumph. A keynote speaker, Donald Tusk of Poland, the president of the European Council, recalled that his 60th birthday this month made him the “same age as the European Community,” a forerunner of the union, and a beacon for freedom and dignity for Poles during the Communist era, when “it was forbidden to even dream about those values.”
A keynote speaker, Donald Tusk of Poland, the president of the European Council, recalled that his 60th birthday this month made him the “same age as the European Community,” a forerunner of the union, and a beacon for freedom and dignity for Poles during the Communist era, when “it was forbidden to even dream about those values.” But behind the pomp and ceremony were concerns about the prospect of the project’s failure — even its collapse. With Britain starting this Wednesday a two-year timetable to leave the union, Prime Minister Theresa May was absent from the gathering. And in a speech at the Vatican on Friday, Pope Francis warned the leaders that their union “risks dying” as nations, and citizens, turned inward.
But behind the pomp and ceremony were concerns about the prospect of the project’s failure — even its collapse. With Britain this Wednesday starting a two-year timetable to leave the union, Prime Minister Theresa May was absent from the gathering. And in a speech at the Vatican on Friday, Pope Francis pointedly warned the leaders, including President François Hollande of France, that their union “risks dying” as nations, and citizens, turned inward. Underlining the disaffection with the union, protesters took to the streets on Saturday afternoon, shutting down Rome neighborhoods and railing against European technocrats, capitalism and shadowy economic powers.
Underlining the disaffection with the union, more than 25,000 people, many of them angered by years of cutbacks and belt-tightening, were expected to march on Saturday through central Rome, where security is expected to be doubly tight in light of the deadly rampage in central London on Wednesday. Met by a large police presence, they marched under a number of banners, including those of trade unions and left-wing parties. Smoke bombs went off, and tensions rose between protesters and police officers, but the march did not degenerate into rioting. Tight security measures were put into place days before.
A particular target of protesters is the single currency, the euro — the bloc’s flagship economic project — seen by many as unfairly benefiting some countries like Germany while imposing painful austerity on other nations like Greece. “Europe was a dream that has turned into a nightmare,” said Mario De Giorgi, 50. “We are Italians who want more rights and a better life, what we had before the euro.”
There also is rising dissatisfaction with Europe’s claims to moral leadership in human rights since the introduction of tougher policies to limit the entry of refugees and migrants fleeing war-torn and poverty stricken countries in the Middle East and Africa. That single currency, the bloc’s flagship economic project, is viewed by many as unfairly benefiting countries like Germany while imposing painful austerity on others like Greece.
Four marches, sit-ins and other happenings were scheduled for Saturday, though most planned to celebrate the treaty. The March for Europe held a rally close to the Roman palazzo where the signing took place. “The euro is a killer currency; it has destroyed the world,” said Chiriac Tiberiu, who said he was part of the Romanian branch of the Five Star Movement, an anti-establishment party. “Europe has to disappear and be replaced with something that guarantees real freedom,” he said.
“Europe gave us 60 years of peace, so I felt I had to give something back,” said Mauro Armadi, 23, who traveled to Rome from Taranto, in Puglia, to show his support for the treaty. There also is rising dissatisfaction with Europe’s claims to moral leadership on human rights since the introduction of tougher policies to limit the entry of refugees and migrants fleeing war-torn and poverty-stricken countries in the Middle East and Africa.
“Italy is too small to face globalization,” he said, “but as part of the European Union we can face the challenges of the world ahead.” But at other marches and sit-ins, most celebrated the treaty. The March for Europe held a rally close to the Roman palazzo where the signing took place.
Tobias Lundquist, 26, who traveled to Rome from Sandviken, Sweden, said, “With the European Union we cast off our dark history and came together to solve problems at a table, not a battlefield.” “Europe gave us 60 years of peace, so I felt I had to give something back,” said Mauro Armadi, 23, who had traveled to Rome from Taranto, in Puglia, to show his support for the treaty.
But he expressed concerns about rising extremism in some countries. “We can’t relax, but we must try to figure out more long-term strategies for Europe,” he said. Tobias Lundquist, 26, who had traveled to Rome from Sandviken, Sweden, said, “With the European Union, we cast off our dark history and came together to solve problems at a table, not a battlefield.”
Bojer Kinzonzi, 20, a communications student from Paris, mulled the question: Is the future of Europe at risk? He said: “I am worried like a mother worries that something will happen to her child. But I am more hopeful than worried.” Mr. Tusk encouraged the demonstrators filling the streets of European capitals this weekend to connect with the bloc’s history to understand how far the Continent had come.
Mr. Tusk encouraged the demonstrators filling the streets of European capitals this weekend to connect with the bloc’s history in order to understand how far the Continent had come. He also exhorted the bloc’s leaders to rise to the challenge of reviving faith in the project. Since the signing of the treaty, which created important precursor institutions to the European Union, the bloc has more than quadrupled in size. It is the largest trading bloc in the world and the biggest donor of development and humanitarian aid; it has absorbed formerly Communist countries in Eastern Europe and has created a giant single market with more than 500 million consumers.
“Prove today that you are the leaders of Europe, that you care for this great legacy we inherited from the heroes of European integration 60 years ago,” Mr. Tusk said. It has also knocked down barriers to freedom to travel and work in neighboring states, creating lifelong bonds across frontiers that were formerly guarded. Above all, the bloc’s founding idea of making war between nations with mutual self-interest unthinkable has held.
Paolo Gentiloni, the Italian prime minister, who opened the ceremony, said the founders of the European project “shared the same splendid obsession not to divide but to unite.” He added that they resolved after the “evil” of two world wars “to put behind us the demons of nationalism.” Yet the project is reeling from recent crises that helped push the British to vote to leave the bloc in a referendum last June. Britain’s rejection prompted concerns that populist leaders opposed to the European project could be on the cusp of taking power in other countries.
The European leaders arrived on giant red carpets before entering the marbled hallways at the Renaissance-era palace with the aim to rebut myriad concerns on Saturday. But there was even dissension in the run-up to the gathering, with Poland and Greece threatening to block the Rome Declaration. That threat was beaten back this month in the Netherlands, where the center-right party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte won more votes than Geert Wilders, who opposes the European Union.
Since the signing of the treaty that created important precursor institutions to the European Union, the bloc has more than quadrupled in size. It is the largest trading bloc in the world and the biggest donor of development and humanitarian aid; it has absorbed formerly Communist countries in Eastern Europe and has created a giant single market with more than 500 million consumers. Still, uncertainty remains over the outcome of the French presidential election in April, with a second round in May, and Germany’s elections in September.
It has also knocked down barriers to freedom to travel and work in neighboring states, creating lifelong bonds across frontiers that were formerly guarded. But Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, the bloc’s executive body, said, “Let us not lose perspective.” As daunting as the challenges may feel today, he said, they were “in no way comparable to those faced by our founding fathers.” Europe, he said, had already “managed to achieve almost eternal peace.”
Above all, the bloc’s founding idea of making war between nations with mutual self-interest unthinkable has held — a point underlined on Friday by the pope, who described the period since 1957 as “the longest period of peace experienced in recent centuries.”
Yet the project is reeling from recent the crises over the euro and migration that helped push the British to vote to leave the bloc in a referendum last June. Britain’s rejection prompted concerns populist leaders opposed to the European project could be on the cusp of taking power in other countries.
That threat was beaten back this month in the Netherlands where the center-right party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte won more votes than Geert Wilders, a ferocious critic of Islam who opposes the European Union.
Still, hanging over the Rome gathering is the outcome of the French presidential election in April, with a second round in May, and Germany’s elections in September.
But Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, the bloc’s executive body, said Saturday, “Let us not lose perspective.” As daunting as the challenges may feel today, he said, they were “in no way comparable to those faced by our founding fathers.” Europe, he said, had already “managed to achieve almost eternal peace.”