President Sergio Mattarella said
"let's hope common sense prevails" on Monday when asked by a
young man about the tariffs US President Donald Trump's
administration intends to impose on EU goods.
The head of State was speaking during a visit to the
'Agricoltura è' Village event in Rome set up to celebrate
Tuesday's 68th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome
establishing the European Economic Community, which went on to
become the European Union.
"Open markets satisfy two vital interests: for peace and for our
vital export interests," Mattarella continued.
"Tariffs create market barriers, distort the market and penalise
quality products.
"This is unacceptable to us but it should be unacceptable to all
the world's countries.
"Cooperation on fair rules is indispensable. The answer is not
tariffs but for the rules to be enforced.
"We have to be calm without feeding excessive concerns, because
the EU has the strength to calmly, authoritatively intervene to
counter an unjustified decision such as the the imposition of
tariffs.
"Europe is a strong entity, so we must intervene calmly, but
also with determination".
The president also spoke about history, hailing the politicians
who started the process of European integration.
"One must reflect on the situation in which the start of
European integration was taking place," Mattarella said.
"In 1945, Italy was emerging from a devastating war. There had
been brutal dictatorships and the abyss of the Holocaust.
"In that climate of tragedy, of despair, some far-sighted,d
courageous statesmen tried to an idea on its head, it was a
revolution of thought - putting the future of Europe together".
But Mattarella also stressed the need for the EU to reform.
"The fact that the EU is a model imitated around the world shows
how extraordinarily successful it has been," he said.
"Of course it has shortcomings to resolve, such as the need for
faster decision-making processes.
"We need quick and timely answers. Europe needs to renovated
itself".
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