How Europe became a Union
On the occasion of Europe Day 2025, Villa Vigoni, together with the Movimento Europeo-Italia and in cooperation with six Milanese Universities, co-organised the conference “Forty years after the European Council of Milan 1985. European public space: strategies and tools for the future”.
The event offered an important opportunity to reflect upon a significant phase of the process of European integration: The European Council of Milan in 1985. With this Council there began a process of reforming the founding treaties. Important proposals, such as the White Paper on the completion of the internal market or the “Adonnino report” on European citizenship, were approved. Additionally, a mobilization of the general public helped to set this process in motion.
The conference was held at the Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in front of a large audience. 150 people participated, amongst them representatives of various institutions and the world of science, students and citizens. They engaged in a lively debate about the challenges the European Union is currently facing.
In his inaugural address, Ambassador Luigi Mattiolo, the Italian president of Villa Vigoni, called for a deeper understanding of the historical importance and topicality of the European Council of 1985, emphasizing its crucial role in the resumption and further consolidation of the European project. At the heart of his speech, he referred to the Genscher Colombo Plan from 1981 which outlined a vision of a European Union that would not only focus on economic cooperation, but also on deeper political, institutional and cultural integration. Key proposals of this plan were European citizenship and the drafting of a common foreign policy. Ambassador Mattiolo underlined the value of German-Italian cooperation as a driving force in the integration process and highlighted the efforts of Villa Vigoni to foster a consistent and constructive dialogue between the two countries. Turning his attention to the present, he went on to refer to the German-Italian action plan from 2023 on the future consolidation of the European Union. By way of summing up, Ambassador Mattiolo reminded those involved in the spheres of politics, science and civil society of their responsibility to establish a flourishing, inclusive and democratic European public space.
Subsequently, Pier Virgilio Dastoli, the president of the Movimento Europeo-Italia and long-time member of Villa Vigoni, talked about the political and symbolic value of the Milan Council. He underlined the importance of European citizenship and democratic participation. He emphasized the need to strengthen the European public space, taking our cue from historical figures like Schuman, Spinelli, Genscher and Colombo. Paolo Gentiloni, the former European Commissioner for Economy, in his speech outlined five strategic priorities the EU would do well to focus on in the course of the next few years.
The event concluded with a screening of the film “Le parole di Ventotene” (The words of Ventotene) followed by a public debate with influential representatives of the European Idea at Casa della Cultura. All of these speakers reinforced the essential role of civil society in the creation of the European project.
Villa Vigoni, which is dedicated to the enhancement of the German-Italian and European Dialogue, is proud to have contributed to this exchange on common visions for the future of Europe.
Readings
- Vigoni Paper N. 1/2025 – Europe in a Changing World
- Vigoni Paper N. 1/2024 – Europe between the end of the Cold War and the Global Zeitenwende
Credits
Photos | Villa Vigoni
Recent Comments