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EU leaders try to revamp integration with Rome Declaration

Source: Xinhua 2017-03-26 03:36:15

ITALY-ROME-THE TREATY OF ROME-60TH ANNIVERSARY

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, European Council President Donald Tusk and Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (L to R) celebrate the signing of the "Declaration of Rome" during a ceremony at Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy, on March 25, 2017. European Union (EU) leaders on Saturday marked the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome founding the integration process, with a major ceremony in the Italian capital. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)

by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) leaders tried to revamp integration project by signing a Rome Declaration at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the founding Treaty of Rome in the Italian capital on Saturday.

In the Rome Declaration, a formal blueprint for EU's future, they vowed to "set out a joint vision for the years to come."

The summit drew heads of state and government from 27 EU member states, along with top EU institutional figures. British Prime Minister Theresa May did not attend, and her government is expected to officially trigger the two-year procedure to leave the bloc next Wednesday.

"The EU is facing unprecedented challenges, both global and domestic," leaders said in the declaration, mentioning conflicts, terrorism, migration, protectionism, and social inequalities.

"Together, we are determined to address the challenges... and to offer to our citizens both security and new opportunities."

The Rome Declaration was signed at the ancient and richly decorated Orazi e Curiazi Hall in Rome's Capitoline Hill, exactly where the original Treaty of Rome was signed 60 years ago.

The 1957 treaty established the European Economic Community (EEC), paving the way to the current European Union.

"Today, we celebrate the perseverance and the cleverness of the (EU) founding fathers," Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said in his opening address."This crowded hall is proof of this: we were six in 1957, and now we are 27."

Gentiloni recalled many achievements of the European integration, but also acknowledged that, facing today's major issues, the EU has found itself unprepared and responded late.

This triggered "a crisis of rejection by segments of the public opinion" and rekindled "close nationalism", according to Gentiloni, who mentioned the Brexit as an example.

"As such, this is the message we want to launch today: we have learned the lesson, and the EU has chosen to start up again, and it has a horizon to do so in the next 10 years," Gentiloni said.

In the declaration, the EU 27 committed to make the EU stronger and more resilient. "Unity is both a necessity and our free choice," they said.

"Taken individually, we would be side-lined by global dynamics. We will act together, at different paces and intensity where necessary, while moving in the same direction."

The reference to "different paces and intensity" of integration was a mild mention of the proposal of a multi-speed EU, which would entail different groups of countries willingly moving towards further integration at different paces within the bloc.

Since the proposal has drawn harsh criticism from Eastern European countries, it was not wholly expressed. Yet, it was embodied in the paper."As a political entity, Europe will either be united, or will not be at all," President of the European Council Donald Tusk said at the ceremony.

"Only a united Europe can be a sovereign Europe in relation to the rest of the word," he added.

In the common declaration, the leaders of the 27 member states and those of the EU institutions pledged to move towards "a Union where citizens feel safe and move freely... and jobs and growth are created."

They also committed to boost EU's social dimension, and to make Europe stronger at global level through both existing partnerships and common security and defence.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered the most optimistic remarks. "However daunting our challenges may feel today, they are in no way comparable to those faced by our founding fathers," he said, referring to the fact that Europe's integration stemmed from the tragedy of World War II.

Both before and during Rome's summit, member states succeeded in smoothing out their different visions of EU's future, according to the EU Commission chief. This would allow "an incipient optimistic mood" about the way to proceed, after Britain leaves.

"Contrary to what has been assumed, there was no big dispute between several conceivable paths," Junker said.

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EU leaders try to revamp integration with Rome Declaration
                 Source: Xinhua | 2017-03-26 03:36:15 | Editor: huaxia

ITALY-ROME-THE TREATY OF ROME-60TH ANNIVERSARY

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, European Council President Donald Tusk and Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (L to R) celebrate the signing of the "Declaration of Rome" during a ceremony at Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy, on March 25, 2017. European Union (EU) leaders on Saturday marked the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome founding the integration process, with a major ceremony in the Italian capital. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)

by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) leaders tried to revamp integration project by signing a Rome Declaration at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the founding Treaty of Rome in the Italian capital on Saturday.

In the Rome Declaration, a formal blueprint for EU's future, they vowed to "set out a joint vision for the years to come."

The summit drew heads of state and government from 27 EU member states, along with top EU institutional figures. British Prime Minister Theresa May did not attend, and her government is expected to officially trigger the two-year procedure to leave the bloc next Wednesday.

"The EU is facing unprecedented challenges, both global and domestic," leaders said in the declaration, mentioning conflicts, terrorism, migration, protectionism, and social inequalities.

"Together, we are determined to address the challenges... and to offer to our citizens both security and new opportunities."

The Rome Declaration was signed at the ancient and richly decorated Orazi e Curiazi Hall in Rome's Capitoline Hill, exactly where the original Treaty of Rome was signed 60 years ago.

The 1957 treaty established the European Economic Community (EEC), paving the way to the current European Union.

"Today, we celebrate the perseverance and the cleverness of the (EU) founding fathers," Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said in his opening address."This crowded hall is proof of this: we were six in 1957, and now we are 27."

Gentiloni recalled many achievements of the European integration, but also acknowledged that, facing today's major issues, the EU has found itself unprepared and responded late.

This triggered "a crisis of rejection by segments of the public opinion" and rekindled "close nationalism", according to Gentiloni, who mentioned the Brexit as an example.

"As such, this is the message we want to launch today: we have learned the lesson, and the EU has chosen to start up again, and it has a horizon to do so in the next 10 years," Gentiloni said.

In the declaration, the EU 27 committed to make the EU stronger and more resilient. "Unity is both a necessity and our free choice," they said.

"Taken individually, we would be side-lined by global dynamics. We will act together, at different paces and intensity where necessary, while moving in the same direction."

The reference to "different paces and intensity" of integration was a mild mention of the proposal of a multi-speed EU, which would entail different groups of countries willingly moving towards further integration at different paces within the bloc.

Since the proposal has drawn harsh criticism from Eastern European countries, it was not wholly expressed. Yet, it was embodied in the paper."As a political entity, Europe will either be united, or will not be at all," President of the European Council Donald Tusk said at the ceremony.

"Only a united Europe can be a sovereign Europe in relation to the rest of the word," he added.

In the common declaration, the leaders of the 27 member states and those of the EU institutions pledged to move towards "a Union where citizens feel safe and move freely... and jobs and growth are created."

They also committed to boost EU's social dimension, and to make Europe stronger at global level through both existing partnerships and common security and defence.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered the most optimistic remarks. "However daunting our challenges may feel today, they are in no way comparable to those faced by our founding fathers," he said, referring to the fact that Europe's integration stemmed from the tragedy of World War II.

Both before and during Rome's summit, member states succeeded in smoothing out their different visions of EU's future, according to the EU Commission chief. This would allow "an incipient optimistic mood" about the way to proceed, after Britain leaves.

"Contrary to what has been assumed, there was no big dispute between several conceivable paths," Junker said.

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