In Bergamo, the Seventh Foundation Conference on the Future of Europe
Barroso: “More coordination is needed for the Union”
Monti: “Now the tools exist, commitment is needed to develop the single market”
Pesenti: “Entrepreneurs are ready to do their part for economic recovery”
Bergamo, January 22, 2011 – “Avoiding stagnation in a scenario of increased global competition and in a context of unsustainable public finances: this is the goal toward which the European Union, national governments, and industry in general must aim. Such coordination is essential. We must increase economic governance within the eurozone and on a European scale.” With this hope, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission since 2004, opened – via a video message – the Foundation’s annual conference, which this year, under the title “Europe at the Borders of Development”, sought to address the theme of the global economic crisis with key figures from the business world, institutions, and academia.
After the welcome by Giovanni Giavazzi, president of the Foundation, the conference was opened by a lecture from Mario Monti, President of Bocconi University and former European Commissioner.
“In the last 15 years, Europe has remained, with its low growth rates, at the borders of a phase of very lively global development, but perhaps tomorrow we will say that those years were not wasted. Europe has taken steps forward towards a single market, created a single currency, and expanded to new member states. A Constitution is still missing, but the Lisbon Treaty brings us closer.”
A Europe Ready to Restart
These achievements have absorbed enormous political energy, diverted from other government functions such as growth. However, today Europe is ready to restart. To do so, governance is needed that overcomes the insufficient recognition of a single market still divided between economic union and monetary union. It is important, to strengthen the single market, to improve integration among national markets and to uphold awareness in various countries of the necessity for a market economy.”
These suggestions were further explored in a discussion coordinated by Ferruccio De Bortoli, editor of Corriere della Sera, between academic and institutional analyses represented by Mario Deaglio, Francesco Giavazzi, Lucrezia Reichlin, and Carlo Secchi, and the industrial perspective offered through the insights and experience of Vittorio Colao, CEO of Vodafone.
At the close of the conference, Giampiero Pesenti – president of Italcementi – shared the European Commission President’s vision:
“As President Barroso hoped, I too am confident that Europe will succeed in its effort toward economic recovery. The important thing is that everyone does their part. We, speaking as entrepreneurs, cannot afford to lose this challenge.”
Comunicato stampa CV Josè Manuel Barroso CV Mario Monti CV Ferruccio De Bortoli CV Vittorio Colao CV Mario Deaglio CV Francesco Giavazzi CV Lucrezia Reichlin CV Carlo Secchi CV Antonio Tajani
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