The message of Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini

Festival d’Europa, 6th – 10th May 2011 “This year, the international conference on The State of the Union, the heart of the Festival d’Europa, is rightly dedicated to the “post-Lisbon period”. I would like to credit this happy choice to President Borrell, who has proposed a programme of high quality in terms of subjects dealt with and speakers’ prestige. An extraordinary window on the European world opens in the Badia Fiesolana. Actually, the union between Florence and Europe is old and glorious. 2011 is the year when the Lisbon Treaty will produce all its effects, through the European External Action Service which, under the responsibility of the High Representative, took effect on 1 January, and with the proposals put forward by the President of the European Council to introduce the new measures of economic and financial governance into the Treaty. With the new developments in terms of external action and the Economic and Monetary Union, the Treaty shows its vitality. Thus, Europe is equipped with instruments suitable to play the role of global operator which it aspires to. We are happy that this occurs and denies the cliché of the European decline. Europe is enduring the blows of the crisis. Europe is alive. And the Florence event will prove it. Italy will welcome guests with warm-heartedness and European civil passion.” [Red. Risi – 8.02.2011]