Subscribe
The “European Awareness Days” event, organised under the aegis of the ECR Party, is due to take place in mid-July (10-12 July) in Naples, Italy. The organisers have addressed a question to those attending the conference in Naples: “Is the Mediterranean shaping Europe’s future? Let’s answer this question together”. The three-day conference will bring leading European political leaders from the European Conservative and Reformist Party (ECR Party) to the audience in Naples.
Conservative leaders will address various topical issues in European politics and debate, together with those who will be present, issues of major importance for the future of Europe. Among the prominent guests who have confirmed their participation at the time of going to press are: Mateusz Morawiecki, President of the ECR Party and former Prime Minister of Poland, Carlo Fidanza, Executive Vice President of the ECR, George Simion, Executive Vice President of the ECR in Romania, as well as Italian government ministers Luca Ciriani, Minister for Relations with Parliament, Tommaso Foti Minister of European Affairs, National NRRP and Cohesion Policies, Nello Musumeci Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies. The conference will focus on four major themes: strengthening Europe through a conservative vision, managing migrant flows (especially those arriving from Africa and Asia across the Mediterranean Sea), the blue economy and jobs, and the future of Ukraine, which has been torn by three years of unjust war as a result of Russian aggression.
Strengthening Europe through a conservative vision
In the opening section “Strengthening Europe through the Conservative Vision”, leaders will emphasise the importance of preserving the national and cultural identity of European states as the foundation of a united but diverse Europe. It is well known that the conservative vision emphasises the sovereignty of member states, flexible integration and an opposition to excessive federalism.
As in his previous speeches, Mateusz Morawiecki will once again emphasise the need for a Europe of nations, not of bureaucracy, where each state is free to shape its policies according to its own needs. George Simion, the leader of Romania’s largest opposition party, will also call for a Europe that respects traditional values and protects local communities from the effects of uncontrolled globalisation. Strengthening Europe, from a conservative perspective, does not mean centralising power in Brussels, but strengthening nation states through voluntary cooperation and mutual respect. This model allows for a more effective response to crises, a greater degree of political accountability and a reconnection of citizens with the European project.
Managing migration flows: A conservative perspective
Panels on migration management will take place on Friday the 11th of July (both in the morning and afternoon), reflecting the importance of this topic for the ECR Party. The issue of migration is seen, (from a conservative perspective), as a matter of security, border control and protecting national identity. The participants will be able to interact with the speakers on the topics to be discussed and will certainly draw conclusions on the need to implement stricter border control policies at the EU borders, to fight human trafficking and to support countries of origin in order to reduce migratory pressure. Nello Musumeci, the Italian Minister for Maritime Policy, will emphasise the role of the Mediterranean Sea as a European hotspot and the need to create a European mechanism for the defence of the EU’s southern borders.
We must also remember that European solidarity should not mean imposing mandatory migrant quotas, but respecting the sovereign decisions of the states. A negative example of what it means to impose migrant quotas on Member States is Croatia, a small country with a population of 3.8 million. It is here that many of the migrants travelling through Greece and Serbia are known to arrive. A conservative approach means integrating migrants on the basis of European values, provided that the law and local culture are respected.
Blue economy and jobs: the Three Seas Initiative
The Blue Economy, focusing on the sustainable use of maritime resources, will be the subject of the second panel on 11 July. The concept is crucial for countries bordering the Mediterranean, Black and Baltic Seas – strategic areas in the Three Seas Initiative. Tommaso Foti and Luca Ciriani will discuss the huge potential of the maritime economy (especially in the Mediterranean) for job creation, technological innovation and sustainable development. From fisheries and maritime transport to eco-tourism and renewable energy (such as offshore wind farms). The sea can become an economic motor for Europe. If we look conservatively, the development of the blue economy must be based on responsible investment, the involvement of local communities and the protection of natural heritage. Regional cooperation is also needed, but without ceding control of national resources to supranational entities. George Simion will emphasise the importance of the Black Sea for Romania’s energy security and economic development (a country that can become fully independent in terms of natural gas), calling for more European support for maritime infrastructure projects and sustainable tourism.
Europe and the future of Ukraine: ‘Security, Sovereignty and Reconstruction’
The last panel, to be held on Saturday the 13th of July, will address one of the most burning issues of the moment: how the European Union can support Ukraine’s reconstruction. Even the title of the panel – ‘Security, Sovereignty and Reconstruction’ – reflects the essential triad of European involvement. Supporting Ukraine is a moral and strategic duty, but it must be done with judgement. European states must help rebuild the destroyed infrastructure, but also support Ukraine’s sovereignty without imposing forced political or economic models. An essential thing Ukraine must also do is to respect the rights of minorities living on its territory. European conservatives see Ukraine as an essential ally in the face of the expanding influence of the Russian Federation, but reject paternalistic or technocratic approaches. Sovereignty, one of the basic principles of conservatism, must be respected, even in the context of reconstruction. The panel will also discuss ways in which Ukraine can become an example of national regeneration, if supported by investment and honest partnerships. Most likely Carlo Fidanza will emphasise the need to implement a modern Marshall Plan, adapted to Ukraine’s regional and cultural realities.
The conference in Naples aims to show that the conservative vision offers a coherent and pragmatic framework for tackling Europe’s grand challenges. Whether it is strengthening European sovereignty, controlling migration, sustainably harnessing maritime resources or supporting a neighbour in conflict, Europe’s conservative leaders propose solutions grounded in reality, based on respect for nations, communities and traditions. The Mediterranean, the starting point of the conference, is not just a geographical region but a symbol of a European future that must be diverse, secure and sustainable. Under the aegis of the ECR, the leaders present in Naples will show that a Europe of conservative values can also be a Europe of the future.