“The Sicilian Statute and Regional Autonomy constitute a reference in the panorama of European regionalism. An autonomy that has profound roots in the history of the island and in the island condition of Sicily, which has had moments of light and shadow, but which guaranteed the Sicilians self -government and allowed to respond to the anxiety of redemption of a land too many times neglected in terms of investments and economic, social, territorial cohesion. The role of the regions in Europe is relevant, although the levels of autonomy are not homogeneous, but there is no doubt that the competitiveness of the territories passes today more than ever for the relaunch of the synergy between the central institutions and the European regions “. This was stated by the president of the Sicilian Region Renato Schifani, at Palazzo dei Giurati, home of the Municipality of Taormina, guest of the mayor Cateno De Luca together with a delegation from the Constitutional Affairs Commission of the European Parliamentfor a meeting on the theme of regional autonomy, as part of the celebrations for the 70 years of the Messina and Taormina Conference.
“I am honored to represent Sicily as a member of the European Committee of the Regions – added Schifani by addressing the deputies – and I want to underline the agreement achieved last year among the presidents of our European institutions, which allows joint initiatives aimed at strengthening democracy and identifying new cooperation routes so that more account of the points of view of local and regional authorities during the entire Decision Trial of the EU is taken into account. As the debate of this morning shows – concluded the president of the Sicilian region – these days between Messina and Taormina are not only a moment of celebration, but the foundations for a relaunch of the idea of Europe are laid. In a moment in which the push to nationalisms seem to prevail, a new message of hope for the Europeans starts from Sicily. We can and we must build together a stronger, safer, more free, more inclusive Europe “.
Matilde Siracusano, the Messina Stage Conference
“In these days in the city of the Strait and in the splendid Taormina the 70 years of the Messina Conference are celebrated, a historical event held in June 1955 and considered a decisive stage in the process of European integration which will then lead to the birth of the European Union. A key moment for the history of our continent with an absolute protagonist who was decisive for the successful success of that summit: the Messina Gaetano Martino, the then foreign minister of the Italian government “. So Matilde Siracusano, Undersecretary for relations with the Messina Parliament and deputy of Forza Italia. “Today in Taormina I had the honor of participating in an extraordinary session of the Conference of Foreign Ministers, during which the role of Messina and Sicily was remembered in that important international context, with the presence of the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, the most Europeanist among the political leaders of our country, which I also sincerely thank you on behalf of the citizens of Messina. Knowing the story, enhancing the key passages, recognizing the fundamental contribution of EU fathers like Gaetano Martino, is decisive to face with more awareness the challenges we face and approach consciously and proactively to those that await us in the future “, concludes.