Speech (extract) by Alcide de Gasperi

Speech (extract) by Alcide de Gasperi

‘Even today Europe […] is aching to give the unity of its culture and Christian civilization a concrete political and economic imprint. The journey that leads to this ideal is long and difficult, but many advancements have already been made that a few years ago seemed impossible to even dream of. […] Let us therefore be optimistic since we seem to be close […] to the creation of a federative agency; an agency that is not an organ for the member states but a bearer of international interests equipped with the appropriate authority […]. Let us be optimistic that we are on the way to forming this higher form of confederacy. […] The advancement of the European mentality must take precedence over strengthening and increasing the power of federal institutions although they are moving at the same pace.’

Foto Alcide de Gasperi

Alcide de Gasperi