Ars Pace for Europe

Report conference on the future of Europe – Assisi 31 July 2021

On Saturday 31 July 2021 in Assisi (PG), the associations “Ars Pace” and “Assisi Suono Sacro”, in collaboration with the European Parliament Office for Italy, organized the event “Ars Pace per l’Europa” with the Patronage and support of the Municipality of Assisi, of the Umbria Region and various international institutions. The conference was held at Palazzo Monte Frumentario at 5 pm, an appointment to learn about the exercise of democratic participation which, until next year, will collect citizens’ ideas and proposals on the European Union: this to help promoting the active participation of some sectors of civil society to the “Conference on the future of Europe” and encourage the dialogue through the universal language of Peace in Culture, Art and Music.

The event took place as part of the “Peace Deal Forum” with the interventions of the Founders of Ars Pace: Enrique Barón Crespo, Monica Baldi, Anna Rüdeberg and Andrea Ceccomori, who played the overture flute, together with the lecturers Guy Verhostadt, Franco Ivan Nucciarelli and Valentina Parasecolo moderated by Sarah Hadrioui.

The President of Ars Pace, Enrique Barón Crespo, recalled the moment that marked the beginning of the constitution of the current European Union, namely the Schuman Declaration, carried out in Paris on May 9, 1950, which begins with the awareness that “peace was not possible”. Peace is outlined as the foundation, as one of the pillars of the processes not only of birth, but also of development still in place of the European Union. Over the years, it has known the introduction of unique elements. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, for example, when President Barón Crespo held the prestigious role of President of the European Parliament, in a historical period as complex as significant, crucial steps forward were taken, such as the introduction of citizenship and the drafting of further treaties to respond to the growth of the European constitution process, a look at the past that outlines the importance of acting with dedication also in the future.

MEP Guy Verhostadt, Co-President of the “Conference on the Future of Europe”, reminding past moments of difficulty, such as the financial crisis which experienced a belated European response and, analysing the responsibility of the European Defence Policy at a world level, posed the emphasis on the need to implement a system of reforms to structure a new physiognomy of the EU, in order to guarantee the possibility of acting efficiently even in the face of future problems and of providing it with a capacity for intervention consistent with its objectives.

Subsequently, Valentina Parasecolo, press manager of the Office for Italy of the European Parliament, described the functions performed by her Office, which follows the strategic objective of strengthening the communication of the European Parliament and bringing citizens closer to the activities it carries out, entertaining relations with journalists and using social media in order to guarantee an ever-greater extension of the covered topics. At the same time, she highlighted the importance attributed by the European Parliament to young citizens, defining them as key interlocutors, with a sensitivity to the past, present and future, as demonstrated by the Next Generation EU program. And she continued on the need to carry out a renewal action, as highlighted by MEP Verhostadt, stating that the European Parliament itself has claimed very concrete intervention points, such as the improvement of the decision-making process in the field of foreign policy and the election system of the President of the European Commission, as well as the recognition of a legislative initiative by the European Parliament.

Anna Rüdeberg, President of the Technical Scientific Committee of Ars Pace, carefully analysed the phenomenon of the Covid-19 pandemic, defining it as a natural catastrophe. Thanks to her expertise, as a paediatrician, she revealed a non-negligible gap that generally characterizes the budgets of the States, namely the absence of an element that relates to children and an insufficient consideration of the woman herself.

In addition, the pandemic has indicated the need to ensure an extensive and advised information, without making room for illicit circuits.

Professor Franco Ivan Nucciarelli, author of several volumes, including “Arte italiana nel mondo”, highlighted the fundamental contribution to the information of the figurative arts, primarily painting, over the centuries, ensuring a decisive link between the human being and his values, first from a religious point of view and later also through secular representations. Furthermore, the artistic production has attributed visuality to messages and elements that have become recognizable symbols, such as the white dove with the olive branch, which derives from the biblical passage that recounts the end of the universal flood and therefore represents the theme of peace.

There were several interventions from the public, including the President of the Carlo Collodi National Foundation, Pier Francesco Bernacchi, who wanted to remember the birth and development of his foundation, established about seventy years ago and recognized by decree of the President of the Italian Republic, considering the fundamental contribution it has given to solve the problem of illiteracy, first in elementary schools, and, subsequently, in middle schools, to then also engage on other fronts, organizing interventions to spread the importance that Pinocchio has had and continues to have in art, cinema, theatre and writing, not only in Italy but throughout the world, creating a well-established and appreciated cultural reference.

Equally significant was the intervention of Daniele Randazzo, member of the Technical Scientific Committee of Ars Pace, who brought to attention the issue of military control of religious sites with the aim of averting potential terrorist attacks, such as those sadly occurred in past and with the proposal to combine defence systems with a reflection focused on the culture of peace and dialogue, founding principles of the European Union, which, by virtue of its secularism, could therefore be the protagonist of the dialogues between the different religions and beliefs, becoming promoter of measures against fundamentalism and religious exploitation.

In conclusion, Monica Baldi, Vice President of Ars Pace and of the European Parliament Former Members Association, highlighted the importance of the “Ars Pace per l’Europa” event, considering that it was the first participation of the public in presence after a period of confinement due to the pandemic. And she went on reiterating what MEP Verhofstadt affirmed on the need to create a real dialogue like a relay between citizens and politicians to present and implement concrete proposals giving a voice to almost 450 million European citizens, considering that Culture plays a fundamental role.

And precisely in this particular year, to promote the universal values of Peace in the world through Culture and the Arts, Ars Pace has given life to this project, with the main aim of restoring balance and harmony, adopting a real dialogue of peace through the universal language that does not need translation. Culture – affirms Vice-President Baldi – must be accessible to all in order to be able to effectively deal with obstacles, to give new impetus to one’s existence, without alienating one’s identity but reaching important objectives with the motto: “THE RESILIENCE OF CULTURE”.

The conference, which was followed by a large audience in presence and in virtual connection, as well as welcoming the opinions of illustrious guests, allowed us to reflect on the past, present and future of the European Union, highlighting the values, principles and the recent proposals to make it increasingly ready to respond to the needs of citizens and always ready to face new challenges to ensure a Europe of all and for all.